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ShadowsCool
05-19-2012, 02:18 PM
My Father, The Marine

A marine at war
The Vietnam war
Into this life I was born.
My dad was never around
He was always far away stationed
Finding another wife.
And beside all of that
We truly never bonded.
The cats in the cradle song but
Without the catch
Or the son coming home.

But we kept in touch
Here and there.
But marines never open up
At least not my dad,
So few words were spoken.

He was already older when he had me
52, when he became father
And he never grew into the roll.
I got married, had some kids
Yada, yada, I was busy
The usual, then the call came
The V.A. hospital
Telling me your father is very sick
He wants to see you.

A shock grew over me,
I never knew,
He kept this from me.
I felt a faint tear
But I pulled it together
It showed I had a feeling for the man
Now I will introduce what happened next,
Written in prose
My final moments with him
Before he died.


His Dying Moments

There on the trembling heights
Amid an ivory October moon
I visited my father
A man I barely knew.

Ossified in appearance
Dingy in complexion
But of heart gold
Stout as stone.

This man I hardly knew
Though I was his son,
Extended his slight hand
So I grasped his tender palm.

He seemed to be moved,
His face pale yellow,
We spent much of his remaining moments
Talking fondly of old times.

He seemed to hold out for more,
Within his hallows that set deeper
I could see a faint twinkle
Or was it from a faint star.

It was then the doctors and nurses rushed in
They said I had to go.
Beepers were going off
My father was rushed away.

His hand limp to mine,
I was shoved away,
As the doctors tried to perform miracles
Maybe one last time.

But I heard my fathers precious dying voice say
Goodbye my son before slipping away.
That became his final words
He left this life for sure.

I regret I could not see him sooner
He was gone.
I had time only for goodbye,
To
My father,
The Marine.

Delta40
05-19-2012, 08:17 PM
That's a really moving poem Shadows. Your preamble with the cats in the cradle isn't too bad either as it gives the bio background but the poem itself as I relate so well to my own father's final moments are wonderful.

YesNo
05-19-2012, 08:36 PM
Nice poem, ShadowsCool. I enjoyed it.

ShadowsCool
05-19-2012, 09:47 PM
That's a really moving poem Shadows. Your preamble with the cats in the cradle isn't too bad either as it gives the bio background but the poem itself as I relate so well to my own father's final moments are wonderful.

I hope you didn't have to go through a similiar situation. It was tough. But I'm glad it touched home with you Delta.

ShadowsCool
05-19-2012, 09:48 PM
Nice poem, ShadowsCool. I enjoyed it.

Thank you YesNo.

Delta40
05-19-2012, 09:55 PM
I hope you didn't have to go through a similiar situation. It was tough. But I'm glad it touched home with you Delta.

I was holding my father's hand when he died. I was the last person he saw on this earth. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had and the only time when I knew there was a God.

ShadowsCool
05-19-2012, 10:10 PM
I was holding my father's hand when he died. I was the last person he saw on this earth. It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had and the only time when I knew there was a God.

Moments like that are just so hard to describe. :)