In memory of my father; 5 years later

Five years ago today, on the Feast of the Holy Cross, my father died. Here is a photo of him in 2002 doing what he loved most—metal detecting. He is triumphantly holding an 1892 silver dollar he had just found. I sure do miss him, and is absence in my life is an ache that just does not seem to end. Here also is a poem from my book, That Word (2014), which hopefully says in a better way anything I could say otherwise:
Commendation

Take from himwhatever stainseven Communion
and devotioncan’t undo.And let him
rise up—if not todayone day soon—
from the asheswe placed so carefully into
the dark recessof the earthand left there
where the rain’s soakingand the snow’s run-offand the heat of high noon
cannot reach himanymore.Let him rise up
from heremore beautiful than he is
in those dreamsfrom which I myselfrise and stumble
toward a slightly overcastdawn.


From That Word
Copyright © 2014 published by North Star Press