Ninety-two Years (Poem for My Father)

-
Donald P James Sr - March 5, 1925 - June 21, 2017

Ninety-two years,
Normandy,
Bronze Star
and a Purple Heart,
brother,
hero,
husband
and father.
A voice for those who were silent.

Ninety-two years,
most spent in machine shops
defending your country
as you did
when storming beaches.
A supporter of the few rights
in the world.

Ninety-two years,
under the gaze of God,
knowing the cross,
questioning the temples
and following faith
where it led.

Father,
dad,
someone I could talk
of Notre Dame football with
and then
the challenges of knowing Christ.
A man
whose faults were human
and gifts were sacred.

Father,
dad,
the icon standing taller than I.
Ninety-two years,
an example of light
shining out
through the shadows of life.
copyright 2017 - Donald P James Jr


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