Men of Few Words

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21. The following is in memory of my father, and my father-in-law, two men who have greatly influenced me.

Men of Few Words

At first they must seem

an unlikely pair,

a Swede and a Norsk you see.

One who washed dishes,

one who would not,

but both of them influenced me.

One struggled through life

in good times and bad;

eventually his collar turned white.

The other was steady,

with patience and drive,

and worked through both day and night.

They were always around

through thick and through thin,

when a friend was all that we needed.

Their support and wide smiles

helped bring us through trials,

with love and respect we were treated.

A necktie to mow lawns,

a joke worth a yawn,

a pipe that always smelled fine.

A limp in his walk,

and a fire in his talk,

are all fond memories of mine.

A farmer at heart,

who never could sing,

and lived his life with zest.

From the sea to the shore,

across highways and trails,

his toys were always the best.

A wink or a stare

or an angry cold glare

spoke volumes from the eyes of a dad.

With so little said,

we knew what they meant

when we were being good or bad.

No one is taller

than those who will rise,

when a young voice cries in the night.

And listen to fears

or troubles or cares,

with answers that always seem right.

Skills and abilities;

one many, one few.

They always did their best.

From pounding a nail

to baiting a hook,

at last it’s their turn to rest.

As years have gone by

we have learned to understand,

the words that so seldom were spoken.

We remember their best

with pride in our chest,

though now sometimes our hearts are near broken.

With favorite old chairs

and newspapers near,

they hardly got to know one another.

It’s comforting now;

their unspoken words

will always be heard by the other.

The memories we treasure

of grandpa and granddad

are those that will never depart.

Kind words and blue eyes

will always be warm

in the depths of nine young hearts.

And so we remember

while each their own kind,

with few common bonds week to week.

Their volume is sure,

their wisdom is pure,

when men of few words choose to speak.

Father's Day 1982