A good man

Muscle and bone

Wracked lean by 101 years on this beautiful earth.

101 years of honorable living,

Praying, working, loving.

101 years - Older than dirt, some might say

But still boxing, if shadows,

Fighting sleep in search of proving them wrong.

Valiant and determined even to the end.

He left shouting to the darkness I’m not ready!

There’s more!

 

More grace to be said

More thanks, Heavenly Father, for the many gifts you bring to this house

More sorrowed men and young ones to counsel

More ministries to serve

More football to snooze through,

More toasts to be given,

Still a few who haven’t heard all my jokes,

More peaches to peel,

More ice cream to eat!

More flowers to grow,

More horses to sketch,

More card games to win,

More friends to share laughs with

Caregivers to tease

More grand and great-grandchildren to hold and to hug,

Jane and Bill to love.

 

A roomful here left standing,

Rocking, reeling

Weeping in the darkness

Many have not known a day without him….ever

A new order to the generations

Slamming into each life.

In-your-face mortality, unwelcome reality.

For if he can go, then so must we all.

What's left that we should do?

What can be yet undone?

Will we so fight when our time has come?

Yet no matter the pleas, the prayers, the fight

Night will not be denied it's

Magnificent trophy.

And the Lord will have home this good man.

 

Pamela Flesner PBF © 2016