Be That Rock

Be That Rock
by Michael R. Burch

 
for George Edwin Hurt Sr.

 
When I was a child
I never considered man’s impermanence,
for you were a mountain of adamant stone:
a man steadfast, immense,
and your words rang.
 

And when you were gone,
I still heard your voice, which never betrayed,
"Be strong and of a good courage,
neither be afraid ..."
as the angels sang.
 

And, O!, I believed
for your words were my truth, and I tried to be brave
though the years slipped away
with so little to save
of that talk.
 

Now I'm a man ...
a man ... and yet Grandpa ... I'm still the same child
who sat at your feet
and learned as you smiled.
Be that rock.
 

I don't remember when I wrote this poem, but I will guess around age 18. The verse quoted is from an old, well-worn King James Bible my grandfather gave me after his only visit to the United States, as he prepared to return to England with my grandmother. I was around eight at the time and didn't know if I would ever see my grandparents again, so I was heartbroken -- destitute, really.

Reviews

[Beccy]

A poem of love and of precious memories; and one which so many of us can relate to. My grandparent's on both my mother and father's side are now passed, but they are locked forever in my memory; and I pass on those memories to my son Charlie when we talk about family history, share photographs, do those things that make our loved ones live on past the brief temporal existence we consider life.

Beccy.

[Michael R. Burch]

Beccy, I'm glad you were able to relate to my poem. Poetry is one way to preserve memories, and now with online memorials family members around the globe and in future generations can share the poems, photos, and other memorabilia.