Lori's Poem about Daddy

Lori is the poet laureate of the Root Clan. She has created this poem which captures the essence of my dad. If you didn't know him personally, this gives you a real sense of who he was.

He was strong!

Not always so much physically,

But, in every other way possible.

In his mind, in his heart, in his faith,

In his resolve and determination,

And, especially, in his opinions.

He was supportive.

He could always see the pain beneath the exterior.

Give him half a chance,

And he’d be there, at your side,

The moment you felt the world had abandoned you.

He saw your needs and did his best to fill them.

He was funny.

Often, because of his silent world, perhaps,

He didn’t realize the humor in his glance.

A lifted brow, a wondering gaze, a sigh,

and suddenly, the weight of the world

could disappear and you felt your heart grow light.

So alive in every moment.

Tiptoe past in hopes of not being seen,

And you were his.

So aware of every nuance.

A silent smile and lifted brow would signal,

That he was there with you and no words required.

No other songs of praise could ever mean so much

Than those that so rarely, but so very genuinely,

Fell from his lips.

He worked at living until his dying breath,

Believing unfailingly that what comes after

Is better than what has been.

Keeping a whole world of sorrow deep within,

And a determination to strive through every

Step and breathe until he was called to his eternal home.

That was the little boy with dreams,

Who became a cowboy in Texas,

Who spent his life in devotion to his wife,

And touched those he loved in ways he never

Could have fully realized.

That was our Daddy, our Grandpa, our Santa, our Bob.