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| My Dad |
during the flower power of the 60’s
played the harmonica to N K Cole's songs
and strummed the guitar like Elvis
but he didn't find the Beatles endearing
thought they were rather noisy
a friend lent him a projector to play reels
of films for us weekly.
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| Elvis Presley |
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| Nat King Cole |
watch many a movie
he’d wake us with a plate of fried noodles
incredibly hot and steamy
seeing our woebegone faces he'd entertain
us with songs and melody
as we tapped our feet, mum and he would
dance in perfect symphony.
Singing lustily, 'What’s New Pussycat' with
a tiny towel tied low on his hips
he gyrated round mum with a feline look
and a smirk on his lips
while we sat on their bed watching the love
in his eyes gentle and caring
ours misted over with awe, sleep all gone
basking in his loving.
Every Sunday, wearing over-sized shoes I'd
trudge to church faithfully
as I passed dad’s workplace at four, he'd
be waiting for me
here’s 50 cents, he says, on your way back
buy a drink you’ll be thirsty
I took it every week not realizing he had
sacrificed his cup of tea.
He built a swing with ropes in our yard
under an umbrella tree
the neighbourhood gathered round and
watched, amazed at his dexterity
I know it will never fall, he declares, but
I’ll test it first for you to see
down came the swing, his sarong and all,
the womenfolk clapped with glee.
I noticed that after a year of being in and out
of hospital, his muscular body
that was once a mass of hope, courage, love,
faith, joy and safety
become skeletal, docs were stumped at the
cause of his misery
soon it was time for the angels to come and
give him tranquility.
trudge to church faithfully
as I passed dad’s workplace at four, he'd
be waiting for me
here’s 50 cents, he says, on your way back
buy a drink you’ll be thirsty
I took it every week not realizing he had
sacrificed his cup of tea.
He built a swing with ropes in our yardunder an umbrella tree
the neighbourhood gathered round and
watched, amazed at his dexterity
I know it will never fall, he declares, but
I’ll test it first for you to see
down came the swing, his sarong and all,
the womenfolk clapped with glee.
I noticed that after a year of being in and out
of hospital, his muscular body
that was once a mass of hope, courage, love,
faith, joy and safety
become skeletal, docs were stumped at the
cause of his misery
soon it was time for the angels to come and
give him tranquility.
Now, here he would have been a sprightly old
man in his late eighties
entertaining his grandchildren and all of them
vying to be on his knees
serenading them with lullabies and delighting
them with his stories
but for God’s will, it would have been a happy
tale for his children’s families.
Image: http://library.umkc.edu/
2 comments:
so beautiful...
Thank you, Ketha. My siblings and I have good memories of our dad. He passed away in 1964. I only wish Ameertha, Prema and Rueben had the chance to meet him.
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