A Time In Fall

by Rochelle Cunningham
© October 08, 2010


A Man who use to run circles
Around giants twice his size
Now naps away what is left
Of the rest of his life

His Yosemite Sam mustache
Has long since been replaced
With a prickly-grey stubble
On his poor weathered face

He asks what his boys are up to
And still calls me his sugar-bear
I take time to look into his hazel eyes
That are quickly losing their luster

I see the times for tall-tales
Or toothy grins as he plays his guitar
Are certain to become fewer & fewer
As the light slowly dims in my father

And although I hate to see him in such pain
I hail to the powers that be
For surrounding him with so many loved ones
And allowing him a few more days here with me

I accept that his days are numbered
They have been for quite some time
But no matter how much I think I’m prepared
There is no way to imagine him not in my life

He offers me his unconditional love
Something so few are fortunate to know
His light will live on, long after his life
In my heart & memories it will continue to grow

He’s been the driving force in our family
The stern rock we’ve all counted on
How does a house continue to stand -
When you feel your foundation is gone?

I suppose, like others before us
We’ll adjust to live in new ways
And lean on each other for comfort
Until we’ve weathered the long, painful days

His legacy continuing to live on through my brothers
Somewhere between power tools & gentle guitar strings
With such determination and talent coursing through them
I know his presence will always be seen

These days I touch his tissue paper skin
And tell him how much I love him so
Knowing he wants to be with his Pop again
I silently grant him permission to go

My heart is so full of sorrow
Not being able to do much at all
The pain of watching a parent so helpless –
Withering away like leaves in the fall

My love for him is as strong today
As it has always been in the past
The love we share transcends this life-time
I am certain it will continue to last

And while we still have some time left on this Earth
I make a point to share my heart & stay in touch
Reminded how each precious moment we are given
Should be spent with the ones that we love