Remembering My Father, on his birthday.

OK guys & Gals, Today is more of a personal
post for myself (& Family)

December 14th is would have been my Fathers Birthday!
(Happy Birthday Dad – We miss You)

There is no marketing advice or info, just a post
to share some poems I wrote to remember a Great Man.

The first could be just about anyone’s Dad
– So feel free to copy it, print it or use it
yourself if it fits. (not for profit mind)

Then there’s one specifically about my dad.
Another acrostic poem.
(For those who may not be familiar with the term
acrostic, Read DOWN the first letters)

Finally – an adaptation of Rudyard Kiplings famous
poem about being a man. – with my own verses added.

To anyone whose father is no longer with them,
if these offer any comfort, I’m happy to share them.
(or if you leave the post now – that’s fine too)

Happy Birthday Dad
David H Smith 1937 – 2004

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Father

For most men their life is a struggle,

              They wonder how they’ll even get by,

And mine is certainly no exception,

              In fact I’d even be tempted to cry,

Then into my head comes a vision,

              Of a man who always came through,

He kept trying and pushing his boundaries,

              ‘cos he just knew what he had to do,

Ever loyal to a family that loved him,

              He strove on with a heart that was glad,

Reason is- he was just setting an example,

              He was my ever faithful Dad.

====================================

David Smith

Don’t know why you left so soon,

All explanations matter not one iota,

Valiant and persevering, a good moraled man,

I had you down as my mentor,

Didn’t you realise that you meant so much,

*

So much to all of us

My heart still weeps when I think of you,

I know, – you never like such a fuss,

Thanks for the time you were around

– with both your grumpy and happy face,

Heaven called so I guess you had to go

– I hope it’s a better place.

==============================

IF – Rudyard Kipling  with additions

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on”;

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;

—

If you can strive through the adversities of life,

If you can fall, yet smile and get back up,

If you can sit and puzzle through all problems,

And meet your challenges all head on,

If you can gain the respect of all,

And the love of many whilst being true to your own self,

If you can be a loving husband with a family of eight to unite,

And still hold them all equally together,

Passing on your values to aid them in life’s fight.

If when you’re gone You’ll be remembered,

Respected and Loved by them all,

Then you’ll be a great husband and father,

And in heaven you’ll stand tall.

If you can live three score years and six,

And fill them all with passion and with pride,

Then many great men in heaven,

Will be proud to stand by your side.

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run –
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

In memory, with respect and love always

Of a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Friend, Mentor…

David H Smith.

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Signing off now as I’m rather teary.