My father's song

Live hard, be strong and always go forward.

My father's song

Greatest man I ever known. He told me often. "Life isn't easy and we we must be stronger than what life give us. Better to be piss and vinegar than lay down and give-up. Don't wait for death, do something to make our world better. My father was a Paratrooper in World war two, never said a word about his time in the hellish time of war. He was kind to all people near, never a negative word to the family.  He had a wide open door for the family. He would allow you in, to heal and he never demanded payment. He wanted his family knowing. You were never alone. In heaven, I know he had his guitar, his bible and he is surrounded by his family. He was my teacher, my friend and my mentor. I will miss his kind voice and generous smile.

Love

True wealth is love near.

Great life is having enough.

Great men lead with

concern, kindness and love.

Better to be the kind voice,

the place of safety.

In the end,

the greatest riches are,

is knowing love,

knowing you did your best.

John Castellenas

Author's Note

Words.

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

"True wealth is love near."- a perfect line, a perfect emotion felt. Coyote, yours is a deeply moving and reverent tribute to your father's memory. I wish I had written every beautiful word and line of this poem. The WW2 generation learned hard lessons and instilled them in their children, who tried to instill them in their own children. But the world is so different now. You honor your father and his ideals. You proudly keep his legacy alive. God bless.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Annette. I appreciate the comment and I agree. New generation had forgot. How once great women and men fought and die for freedom.

[Dave]

What a beautiful expression of love. This is a wonderful ode to your father. Thank you for giving us his insights.

Take care - Dave

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Dave. He will be missed.

[Pennywriter]

A glorious homage supplemented by historical footage. A heart touching idea. "never said a word about his time in the hellish time of war".This specific sentence reminds me of a family friend, whom I tried to coax into sharing his war experience with me. He "never said a word about his time in the hellish time of war".

[Coyote Poetry]

The World War two soldiers. Saw hell and they came back. Left the war behind. They were brave and strong men and women. Thank you for reading and the comment.

[Fairy Khan]

Words to live by. Amazing one, yet again.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my friend. I agree.

[Jon Roggie]

Wise words, my friend. Ones to live by.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you Jon. We can't lay down till we must.

[olla]

my Father has been gone for a long time now but I speak to him and of him almost every day.. it amazes me how much of who I am and how I fit in the world is because of who he was and how he fit in the world in which he found himself.. thank you for your words.. they have given me a reason to speak of him again.. and to know a bit about yours as well..

[Coyote Poetry]

We become our mentors, we become our teachers. We honor them by becoming good people. Thank you my friend for reading and the kind words.

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest John... I am deeply touched by your
Father's eulogy by you, his Son.... forever in your
memory ... leaving footsteps to follow in the hollow
of his hand... reaching out to you. Bless be the tie that binds
our hearts in repose. Amen. Pat

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Pat.

[Relic]

Your words are full of wisdom and I've learned from them by just reading this.

Great writing, Coyote.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you my kind friend. I appreciate the comment.

[Moonie]

"the greatest riches are,
in knowing love,
knowing you did your best"
Extremely heartfelt poetry. I think my father is just the same, he has been my guide and mentor all these years. It was him who got me interested in pursuing med school and getting my residency, and it was his love that taught me that I should keep my poetry with me wherever I may go.

[Coyote Poetry]

Our fathers set-us up. You were lucky, you did well and your father would be proud of you. Thank you dear friend for reading and the comment.