A Talk With Dad

Hi Dad, I guess we all will see our time and all will pass Sometimes I lie awake and cry, longing for another chance So much I never said, so often I said too much Once in a while i'll drive by where Grandma's house was Stop and reminisce awhile Wonder what Mom's childhood was like in that old farm house Remember you saying how you loved the place Talking about how you walked all those miles to see Mom At night the sounds of crickets and the truck traffic miles away on 54 Fourth of July gathering on the back porch and in the yard, beer on tap Burnt fingers holding sparklers at night, Grandma's cooking Old Jack barking and howling, uncles throwing horse shoes Kids playing baseball in the grass between Grandma's and Chick's place Did we lose the Utopia we dreamed about, never recognizing it What I'd give to take you for a ride again, through your old haunts Caught up in the nostalgia of your childhood and mine. Times were tougher, times were better, Paradise lost. You measured riches in family, friends and neighbors Somewhere, somehow the present generation lost that Seems as I got older, you got wiser, couldn't see it as a child Never said I love you, Dad often enough Never said thank you, Dad for the lessons on life and living Got to go now, i'll say a prayer for you and mom Who knows, maybe we'll find that peace within us That we had growing up and you were here.