Dear dad, you came from a different time

Raised in a coal mining town in the Great Depression

You moved to the city to seek your profession

Your path was a straight and steady climb

As a boy I heard you were a little operator

With your own creative flair

Boundless energy and more to spare

Like a rising elevator

Me, I'm nothing compared to you

We never did see eye to eye

You toughened me by and by

The oldest I guess this was my due

I don't recall you ever to say

no I don't think you ever did

If you loved me you kept it hid

Your emotions were never on display

I think your parents were the same

Serious and Stern in work and play

I guess a hard life made them that way

So maybe you're not to blame

I longed for love and affection

But it never did seem to come along

My facade was to be brooding and strong

Love never seemed to go in my direction

I saw your love only when at play

And I loved every minute we spent

Together everywhere we went

Thoes times were special that way

You taught me go golf and how to ski

How to fish and hike and skate

to throw a pass or build a gate

I remember thats the way life should be

If I was out of line, your temper you would lose

You shouted and strapped and punched and hit

Yeah, sadly I remember all of it

But what hurt more was the mental abuse

You called me a names that made you feel big

and would make me feel small

though I learned eventually to walk tall

I learned to zag to your zig

I seemed to become your rival

Thats not the way I really felt inside

My true feelings I leaned to hide

I think this was my way of survival

But as time passed and I became a man

I learned how its a hard road

At times such a heavy load

I began to more clearly understand

I can see now you did the best you could

You taught me right from wrong

You loved me all along

Tried your best to make me good

You know you didn't do so bad

for every moment of sadness

there was another of gladness

No reason to be sad

Time has helped to reveal

There is a part of me the same

Not just only my name

We're both the real deal

No reason to go farther

In time I hope to show you

and make you know too

Your son still loves and looks up to you father

©  James T. Adair