One Hundred Today!

 

He sat across the table

Not as strong as before,

Age was having its effect

More and more.

 

I sat by the side door

And I admired this man,

I am still a benefactor

Of his working hands.

 

We were in conversation

As often was the case

When we would visit the house

And our steps retrace.

 

A past of many trials

But of great successes too,

Compared to the successes

The failures were few.

 

He seemed to have more

Than what then appeared,

But I had come to realize

It was how he shared.

 

  

Together with Mom

They made a great pair

And of their meagre resources

There was much to share.

 

For his eighty odd years

He was still very strong

And appeared certainly to me

To be a hundred bound.

 

His goal was three figures

If it were the Father’s will

And he would have been that

If he were around still.

 

In our conversation then

He actually said to me

He felt good enough for three figures,

But this was not to be.

 

Today we celebrate him

As though he were still here,

Today, February 17, 2022,

It’s his centennial year!

 

Happy one hundred, Dad!

Your legacy survives time,

Your remains are at Coral Ridge

But you live on in our minds.

 

  

Mom is not around

Since she joined you in death

It is almost two years today

She too took her rest.

 

In our memories, though,

You are both still here

And hence, we dare to celebrate

Dad’s one hundredth year!

 

Your children, your grands

Your extended family and fans,

Other relatives and in-laws

Salute you today

From earth’s grand stand!

 

Stewart Russell © February 17, 2022