My dad has passed away. He joked once last fall that he was going to be around in March to prove those doctors wrong that only gave him a few days or months to live. He made it to the first of March and then passed away in his sleep.
BUT I’m back home for the funeral tomorrow.
I found out a few days ago that I’m going to speak at the funeral. SO I’m going to read a poem. I wrote my dad a poem many years ago and when I went to find it in my files and read it over again … it wasn’t quite right. I rewrote parts of it and now I think it works. This is it.
My Father’s Gift
Like a falconer
you released me
to soar in the heights,
supporting me
just by being there.
And like a hawk
returning to its master
I return to you.
You once gave me
a freedom to dream–
to dare to do
anything my heart desired.
You have given me
the sky.
I return
but you are no longer there.
My tethers are gone,
you have given me my freedom
to fly amongst the stars,
shining with the light
of your love.