A Father, in retrospect

My father's memory conjures a sense of 'deja vu'

Though not a feeling of having already experienced the present situation

But more like, had I actually been there, and had I actually lived the experience?

My father had been one of those wandering souls

Artistic and restless, gifted but misunderstood

I imagine that my brain should have sensed the presence of a father

If his yearning, his need for something unseen and unknown

For finding himself

Could have somehow made him be still for a moment

So I could know where he actually had been in relation to my life experiences

When my brain is handed a contradictory stimulus, it says

"Oh well, I imagine I have been wrong that my father would have had the time to teach me to ride a bike, and threaten all the lurking boys with hell and damnation, scaring the holy hell out of one and all".

Like they do in the movies....

My father was a musician, in a band

My father was an artist, could draw any picture perfectly

My father was a carpenter, could build me a house

My father knew every plant, and their medicinal uses

His penmanship was the stuff artists dreamed about

Such a talented soul was he

In short, my father knew everything that I wanted to know

My father had all the skills that I wanted to learn

Why are the truly artistic such wandering souls?

The world being what it was

When the time came for me to learn

He was taken from this world

My house was left unbuilt

The arts were left unlearned

On my own I was left to learn

There is still a lot not yet learned

But having life means hope springs eternal

Misunderstand me not

My father was a kind and giving man

Flawed? Yes he was, who isn't

On 'Father's Day', I shall send a prayer

And a blessing, in hopes that

Wherever you are Father...

May you find the peace you never found

While traversing this earthly plane!

.................................................................