My Daddy

He filled a room with his presence

Whenever he walked in.

His huge frame and booming voice

Made all aware that he was there.

Tough, and strong, quiet, and powerful

With a heart full of kindness

And a calm and reassuring countenance,

Never complaining, always in control,

He took what life handed him

And made the best of it.

A proud and patriotic seaman,

A kind and loving father,

A bread winner and problem solver,

A big teddy bear with a heart of gold.

He sailed the oceans far and wide,

Full of pride in his profession,

Doing his duty with calm and resolve,

Leaving his family for months at a time

To do what he knew had to be done.

He tried to give up his ocean life

And become a landlubber,

But he would get that faraway look

In his soft hazel eyes,

And we knew the sea was calling him back.

He loved his family and we loved him,

But we all knew we had to share him

With the deep, dark seas that called

To him and owned a part of his soul.

He now resides in that big ocean

In the sky, sailing forever

Above the clouds in peace

And eternal love, yet watching

Over us from above, I feel

His presence often as I

Talk to him and ask his advice,

Somehow the answers come

And I whisper a soft

"Thank you, Daddy."