†Papa – My Guide to the Stars
In memory of my Father. His love, courage, and sacrifice created and inspired the force in my life.
Papa,
The bread crumbs You placed
guided me to the Redwood trees
of a past dream‡
Look Papa!
As in my dream
the trees have grown and grown and grown
like an endless summer dream!
Yes my child
But as we gaze on their endless beauty
Know that they as us are not endless
Still Papa I sense the presence of peace
of my long past lovely friend Myrth
Who is now in Your presence as all my past friends
Yes my child
They are all now in peace
As one day far away you too shall be
Papa I hear not the chirp of birds
but the cascading of waterfalls
Caressing and holding up the many lily pads
as you now hold me
Sunshine I do not see
Yet, I feel no coldness around me
My child
It is because anothers love stronger than mine
holds you fondly in his heart
Still I too guide his soul
as you love to tease
Papa, as we look to the stars
why do men look to the trees for means
Few cherish their field of dreams
Others are afraid to trade it in for what can be
And at their end most find misery
Yes, I remember the ice cream man
I offered to trade him my one Washington quarter
to buy my friends cones
Yet, he responded
Kid, it cost one Washington dollar
Scram, Money doesn’t grow on trees!
Papa, that’s when you walked out to the street
Again the ice cream said
Buster, like I told the kid
Money doesn’t grow on trees!
And with a wink in your eye
You took out a large bundle from your pocket and said
Mr. Ice Cream Man
Let me show you my money tree!
Oh look Papa!
Another nest I see
But not as big as an eagle’s nest
of which you so proudly speak
when you climbed mountains in your boyish teens
Yes my child
But jealous I am
Of He who once fearlessly crossed my adventurous paths
and now holds you in his arms
Still I tip my hunting cap to the man
who boldly faces the dangers in the Mountains
of the Sierra Nevada as Sierra Madre
Papa, what of the dangers of Men
My sweet child
You are not alone
WE as the strong Redwood trees
valiantly stand with you
As birds of paradise abound so too birds of prey
But I remind you
Know when to capture and when to cut the tree where these birds nest
Key is to know which to capture and which to cut
Listen for the telling little birdie
Relish in the capture
Savor the cut!
Papa,
You are my Guide to the Stars
Happy Father’s Day!