Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Daddy Walking

By request, I'm posting this poem I wrote for Daddy.
This will be my fourth Christmas without him...
My Hero
December. My four-year-old mind was a haze,
I’d been locked in the house as it snowed for three days.
Then quite suddenly, magically, sunlight appeared,
And my Daddy was pulling on snow boots. And gear.

I just couldn’t stand the house one minute more.
I had to get out. I’d help Dad with the chores!
So I zippered and buttoned and pulled on and tied,
Then stood by my Daddy with little-girl pride.

“I’m ready,” I shouted. “Let’s go milk the cows!”
I was set for adventure, quite done with the house.
He smiled and then, turning, stepped into the snow.
And I walked alongside. It seemed quite apropos.

At first the bright sparkles and crisp winter air
Made our walking, adventure, and senses aware.
But then I discovered as most children do,
That snow, though quite pretty, was hard to get through.

I struggled and grunted, broke into a sweat,
Then looked for the barn that we hadn’t reached yet.
My Daddy smiled down at my efforts inept,
“It’d be easier if you tried to step where I step.”

So I did. And my progress was much better then,
Soon we two reached the barn, and the cozy cow pens.
I sat perched on a stool and watched Daddy do chores,
Then followed him home, just like I’d done before.

I learned something that day, as we walked through the yard,
If I stayed in his footsteps, then things weren’t as hard.
His skill and experience, and his guidance, too,
Would make everything easier my whole life through.

Now, to my own kids, when there’s woe to be had
I give bits of advice that I learned from my Dad.
When Life dishes out dollops of good or of ill,
I find that I’m walking in Dad’s footsteps still.

6 comments:

  1. A heart-rending truth. The missing never goes away, even when the path they laid out for us is clear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And for some reason seems to be a little tougher this time of year!

      Delete
  2. So beautiful, Diane. I love the metaphor of the footsteps. Coincidentally, this will be the fourth Christmas without my Dad too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I picture him up in heaven working on puzzles like we used to do when he was here! Maybe your dad is seated there at the table with him!

      Delete
  3. Annnnd ... teary eyes here, Diane. What a loving poem.

    ReplyDelete

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