I left for work
You were your happy self
I called during the day
You said you loved me.
I came home, you were crying
A box of tissues at the ready
Soggy ones at your feet.
Your dad you said.
He was in the garden
Tending his roses
Just keeled over
Nothing could be done.
Parents age, we can’t stop that
We can stay with them
Keep them safe, care for them
Juggle our time and theirs.
They are fonts of knowledge
Stories abounding, feats achieved
Wisdom to hang on
Love unbounded.
We remember them always
We venerate their memory
We record their tales for others
We rejoice in having them as parents.
They have shaped us
We are proud of them
As people, as humans who cared
For us and their world.
But dust to dust, ashes to ashes
We lay them to rest,
We look into the gulf they left
Memory, laughter, love.
We have come from burying my dad,
We celebrated his life
We sang his songs, told his stories
Content in his send off.
We create our own memorial
Photos, medals, icons
His hats hang beside the back window
His overalls always behind the toilet door.
Small things you expect to see
At Grandad’s house.
It’s what made his place what it was
We know he is still here.
Leave them there dad
Retain our memory of his place
Its what made him unique.
So they do hang there,
His hat, his caps
His overalls
His belt on a belt.
As he left them.
Morpethroad 
A teary post for me, M. A lovely tribute to your dad. A reminder to keep that which reminds us most of those we love.
Thanks glad you could read this. We need to keep around us those things that remind us of our loved ones.
This is warm an touching. We always want to keep a part of our love ones alive in us some how.
Thanks Kim those the real items hanging where he left them.
So very touching.
{Hugs}
Thank you RoSy. Those items are where I photographed them this morning.
Aw such a sweet tribute. I’m so sorry…..It is hard to let parents go. I am so blessed to still have both of mine. But we lost my father-in-law not long ago. It was difficult to watch my hubby go through so much pain. Your kids were fortunate to have their granddad as long as they did….Blessings and {hugs}
🙂
Thank you so much Courtney all is good now, grief can be a roller coaster of a ride as I found out last week but mostly I am ok.
Tears, thoughts, sighs, this is what you brought with this. Thank you – it is beautiful Michael. Grief is a roller coaster – striking at any time – we can only remember and know how much they loved us and how much we loved them in return. (hugs)
Thank you Jenny you are the second person to say they had tears in reading this. I guess it hit a spot within you.
…yes that it did