I REMEMBER DADDY

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000" background="043b85a3.jpg"> <div> <B>                                        BILLY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT ADDITIONS</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>                                       </B></FONT><B>                      </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=250 BGCOLOR="#336666" TEXT="#080000" background="044fab83.jpg"> <bR> <div> ''WIND BENEATH MY WINGS''</div> <div>  <embed src="HTMLobj-128/wind.mid" autostart="false" width="145" height="70">  </div> <div> <B>SOUND CONTROL</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="guestbook.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="GUESTBOOK">GUESTBOOK</A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="my_get_away.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MY GET AWAY"><B><U>NEXT POEM</U></B></A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="my_get_away.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MY GET AWAY"> </A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="BILLYS FOOD FOR THOUGHT ADDITIONS"><B><U>BACK TO HOMEPAGE</U></B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>  <div align="center"> <div style="padding:0px; border:1px solid #999999; width:235px; margin: 0px;background-color:#F2F4FA;"> <form action="http://pub2.bravenet.com/elist/add.php" method="post" style="margin:0px;"> <div style="background-color:#DBE0F5;padding:3px;font:12px arial;color:black;"><b>Join the Mailing List</b></div> <div style="margin:10px; font: 11px arial; color: black; text-align:right;"> <div style="margin-bottom:5px;">Enter your name and email address below:</div> Name: <input type="text" name="ename" size="25" maxlength="60" /><br> Email: <input type="text" name="emailaddress" size="25" maxlength="100" /><br> <input type="radio" name="action" value="join" checked style="border: 0px;"/>Subscribe  <input type="radio" name="action" value="leave" style="border: 0px;" />Unsubscribe  <input type="hidden" name="usernum" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="126720699" /><input type="hidden" name="cpv" style="border: 0px solid black; height: 0px; width: 0px;" value="1" /> <input type="submit" name="submit" value="GO" /></div> <div align="center" style="margin-bottom:5px;"><a title="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" href="http://www.bravenet.com"><img src="http://assets.bravenet.com/cp/bn-elist.gif" alt="Free Mailing Lists from Bravenet.com" border="0"></a></div></form> </div></div>   </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" background="04207073.jpg"> <div> <I>I REMEMBER DADDY</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>"I REMEMBER DADDY"</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>* * *</I><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> I sit alone and ponder </div> <div> while all is quiet and still; </div> <div> except the pitter-patter </div> <div> of raindrops on the sill; </div> <div> except the distant yonder... </div> <div> yields an echo of a train </div> <div> it's whistle, faint and somber </div> <div> like a sad song in refrain. </div> <bR> <div> The time could not be better, </div> <div> for the TV's on the blink; </div> <div> and Grandma took the children </div> <div> down to the skating rink ;</div> <div> and I sit in my recliner </div> <div> with a pencil and a pad; </div> <div> to write a special poem </div> <div> about my dearest Dad;<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> who long ago in passing </div> <div> left a memory to behold; </div> <div> who lived with great compassion </div> <div> with a heart as pure as gold! </div> <bR> <div> Still, yet I see my Father </div> <div> as I saw him yesteryear, </div> <div> as he fought the tribulations </div> <div> that society came to bear ;</div> <div> for he was one in millions </div> <div> who had the grit to stay; </div> <div> the job of digging ditches </div> <div> for fifty-cents a day! </div> <bR> <div> It took a lot of courage </div> <div> when depression took it's toll; </div> <div> and Dad was no exception<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> with eight kids in the fold.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> When asked about his worth, </div> <div> he said: l'm poor as I can be, </div> <div> but I'm the richest man on earth </div> <div> for I have my family. </div> <bR> <div> But most of all that I recall </div> <div> was Dad's true dedication... </div> <div> to God, to us, to church and all </div> <div> and daily meditation. </div> <div> And how he loved a gospel song </div> <div> when Sunday meeting came; </div> <div> he would always lead the throng </div> <div> with all the hymns they sang. </div> <bR> <div> When at last his time drew nigh, </div> <div> he seemed so reconciled; </div> <div> he was so weak to even speak, </div> <div> he just looked at me and smiled. </div> <div> His victory won at ninety-one, </div> <div> he raised his arms and cried, </div> <div> as if to say "Lord take me home </div> <div> for I am satisfied!" </div> <div> And somewhere in the great beyond </div> <div> I know my Father waits, </div> <div> as does three sisters and my Mom... </div> <div> for me.. at the pearly gates! </div> <bR> <div> William E. Hardison ( c ) </div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="my_get_away.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MY GET AWAY">NEXT POEM</A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>