This last good bye

To my father (Paul Eugenie Pop) who has such a short time left to live. You gave me life and inspired me to live. You made the part of me that that grows everyday.

This last good bye

 

 

Upon the ashes of dreams and deeds,

lies my dearest friend…

my father.

 

Upon the memories of his life,

hope remains.

 

He was not a man large in life,

but he was larger than life.

 

Life showed through his eyes in the way he spoke,

gentle was his hand when it could have been strong,

strong was his hand with compassion.

 

Across my memories of him,

I see what he tried to teach me,

I hear the lessons in his breath.

 

Now his road has ended,

softly as the first springs wind,

gently as the summers breeze.

 

 Dear father,

through the springtime of your life,

you learned how the stars can shine so bright.

 

Through the summer of your life you learned,

that the stars can be touched.

 

Upon the winter of your life,

our hearts are warmed by the wisdom of your words and deeds,

and your collections of stars.

 

Your passing will leave a great space to be filled.

 

Let your spirit soar over the hills,

through the valleys,

and softly caress the shores of our dreams.

 

You have been in places you never knew you visited,

nor dreamed you ever would touch.

 

But with each generation they will know you more and more,

with each breath they will learn to be strong.

 

Gentle is your hand that will shape their lives,

softly given wisdom will guide them through the trials and tribulations of their lives.  

 

And to the sea they will grow and grow.

 

Let no man nor woman,

say that you were less than a hero.

 

As night falls on this day,

the whip-poor-will will sing your song,

as the stars will make space for a new one that will shine this night.

 

We will travel through life with three sets of foot prints,

one is ours, the other yours,

and the third behind us is God's.

 

Dear father,

your whispered words shall forever guide us,

along the trails of the life that we travel.

 

Though you are not here in body,

your spirit is stronger in the wind that whispers in our ear,

stronger than you could ever know.

 

To the sea and beyond I will travel to be with you,

in this life and the next.

 

Let the snowflake of your spirit,

brush my soul and make it whole.

 

Let the memories of your life,

make the hearth of future generation,

glow beyond the fading sky.

 

To this road you have laid before me,

I might falter,

I might lose sight of it,

I may lose my way.

 

But I will find my way,

with your guiding light.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Eleanor]

This is a beautiful piece of writing!
A great tribute to someone not famous but the best for his own son. The best way in which we can see love is our parents love. Their words filled with wisdom are so valuable. We may fail in life but they are always there to guide us. Sometimes while growing up we forget that they are growing old too. I can feel your love and respect towards him.
Stay strong! :)

[ron]

Thank you. He is and always will be the corner stone of my life.

[I Am Svetlana]

It's never easy to lose someone, especially a close family member such as a father. I lost my grandparents a few years ago, but I know they're looking down on me from above. I look at the sky every day, just to remind myself that they are there and that I'm not alone. Some people pass too soon, my grandparents were in their early 70s and I was just entering 8th grade when they passed. It wasn't easy and I still miss and think about them every day...wishing I were able to still spend holidays with them and all that. Death is a part of life, but it shouldn't always be seen as something terrible...it's a beautiful thing also. Please, remember that.

[ron]

Thank you Svetlana. He has not passed away just yet but he has little time left. I wanted to write this so he knows that when he passes he will never be forgotten.

[Alexandra]

Amazing truly....I'm so sorry about your father. I'm sure wherever he is, he is blessing you :) my grandfather passed away too, so I can realate. Once again, amazing piece of writing.

[ron]

Thank you Alexandra. He has not passed away just yet but he has little time left. I wanted to write this so he knows that when he passes he will never be forgotten.

[Alexandra]

Oh I'm so sorry.... My bad. I'm sure he'll pass happily. :) you're a great son. :D

[ron]

Thank you and its ok.
I just wish I had more time with him.

[Koibito "Nickie" Kitsuy..]

My dearest Ron. I am sorry about your Father's passing. There are no words that can be expressed that will soothe you but this poem was a beautiful piece that expressed your love and admiration for him. Wonderful work.

[ron]

Thank you Nickie but he has not passed yet.
I am torn as to wither I should show him or not.read moreThank you Nickie but he has not passed yet.
I am torn as to wither I should show him or not.
Your words are comforting...thank you XOXOXO

[Karen]

This is a beautiful homage to your father, the way you painted a beautiful picture of what he means to you and how you perceive him to be. He seems to indeed be larger than life and your respect and love for him is obvious. Make sure he knows you've memorialized his life by writing this poem, and read it to him because I'm sure he'll love it too!

[ron]

Thank you Karen. In truth I am torn as to wither I should show him this or not.

[Karen]

Why would you not show him?

[ron]

Not everyone wants to hear such things.

[Karen]

Perhaps at some point they did not; but maybe this is the time for hearing such things.

[ron]

I think you are right.

[Pratik Bhandari]

Beautifully written !!!

"Let the snowflake of your spirit,
brush my soul and make it whole.

Let the memories of your life,
make the hearth of future generation,
glow beyond the fading sky.

To this road you have laid before me,
I might falter,
I might lose sight of it,
I may lose my way.

But I will find my way,
with your guiding light."
Loved this part the most ...

[ron]

Thank you.

[AprilRN1210]

this is so beautifully moving Ron.. I do hope you allow him to read this heartprint.. it holds such sweet sentiment and affection expressed in an honest voice.

few things I noticed..

(our hearts are warmed by the wisdom of you words and deeds,).. did you mean "your" instead of you?

(the wiper wills will sing your song,)... did you mean "whip-poor-will?"

(one is ours, the other his yours,).. did you mean "is" instead of "his?".. actually in my opinion would just say, "the other yours".. flows better (in my head)..

(and the third behind us is Gods.).. not sure, but think need an apostrophe here..

"Let the snowflake of your spirit,
brush my soul and make it whole."... I love this!... well done Ron.. I felt this one..

[ron]

Thank you April. I have made the changes you pointed out.

[icelandicblue]

What a touching and soulful tribute. His obvious love will see you through. I am so very sorry...I do know what this feels like and the holidays can make it very difficult. Hold onto the love and the beauty that was he. You are not alone, he will be with you all the rest of your days.

[ron]

Thank you. I will always remember him.

[Valentine]

Beautiful sentimental write. I could feel what I was going through when I lost my dad some years ago. so much I wanted to tell him, much I did not say and regret not saying. There is nothing more special than a good parents love. Valentine

[ron]

Thank you. If you could have written something like what I wrote would you have shown it to him before he passed away?

[Valentine]

Yes, I would have. I was fortunate to have a wonderful dad with lots of wisdom. I learned a lot from him. Kathie

[ron]

Thank you.

[Ruth]

I am so sorry love...beautiful poem xo

[ron]

Thank you Ruth. I just wonder if it is morbid to right this before my father has gone, and should I show this to him?

[Ruth]

Well love, from someone who has lost their Father, I personally would write him something praising him for the now and not after...I so understand love, am here if you need a friend xo

[ron]

Should I show hi, this?

[Ruth]

I can only say what I would do, I wouldn't show him, but write a new thing for him...showing your love for him...hope you decide what to do hon...

[ron]

Thank you.