Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Slip Loose - A Poem for My Dad





Slip Loose

Slip loose, dear soul and slide adrift
Look back just once and smile
We’re here caressing hand and brow
Talking you softly on your way

One will whistle softly and laugh
Another recall old times on skis
Another camp and fishing trips
The last a barbeque lesson and beer

I remember a hand on the wheel
Me on the cushions in the bow
You tending the boat out on the waves
Lulling me to a nap on the river

But now, it’s our turn for lulling
So we whistle like you
Chuckle over a story or joke
And wait to send you on your way

Slip loose, dear soul and slide adrift
The waves are gentle, the time is right
Ride off to solve the mystery
Look back just once and smile

RIP 
Richard William Miller
January 11, 1923 - June 2, 2014


2 comments:

  1. Such a gentle, beautiful goodbye. Thinking of you and yours...

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  2. What an utterly beautiful poem - it literally brought tears to my eyes, Susan. It brought to mind a quote (anonymous, I think, though apparently off a tombstone in Ireland): "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal." My condolences.

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