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Here’s to My Old Man
- TCU Press
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-22Here ’s to My Old Man Yes, to the days we don’t remember All afar and nearly gone. And to all the long December Days he thought I’d never come. In Texas, as a baby coming Six months hence to start again At tasks he must have then held sacred, Not to mention fun, and then, On Ashworth Road in Iowa On icy days when doors were closed A chase across a snowy mound That sunlight freed and north wind froze. There’s fish alive in Minnesota Just because we never went To fish there, for the days were dollars; Money earned was money spent. But those in Texas took their turn On Sundays when the time was free To talk and wander, walk and wonder What the day could then foresee. Soon to Tennessee we headed. When? I couldn’t rightly say The day we left or when we got there Time was short; he’d dues to pay, For things I’ve never even found out What or why or when or who. But days were short and tight and heavy Can’t explain what men will do. -23There ’s days between of never knowing Effort spent on neither side And years gone by in cool forgetfulness No need for alibis. But as a man I’ve one regret He never shook an older hand So fill your cups in calm respect. Here’s to my old man. Copyright © 1975 Steven Fromholz ...