A Poem of Appreciation
for Dad on his 77th birthday

The Promise and the Keeper
December 30, 1921

The boy child received by Mary Ann and Charles,
a fine little brother presented to sister Mary,
curly black hair,
blue eyes, piercing
from the start,
radiant skin, bow lips, Ah! the dreams
invested in him. Born in Yankton to an inventor
and a lover and maker of beauty, a baby
with great promise. Unfolding
talent and flair for intense living.
A keeper.

Necessity and Invention
December 30, 1932

The schoolboy in knickers, dwelling in Oklahoma City—
a hard-working mother, an amazing yet inconsistent father.
Sister away at college. He plays basketball. Experiments
with cats and a chemistry set. Hungry
too often. Sick to death of creamed carrots, attempts
to get his belly full
with tall stacks
of library books.
Out of the huge longing history called the
Great Depression, he invents a life.

Steadfast Under Fire
December 30, 1943

The dashing young pilot in wartime. Top of his class,
he flies cargo planes, sees his friends leave for action
at the front, never to return. His wife, Ruth, follows him
up and down the Pacific coast. He fills
suitcases with avocados.
She cuts her hands working
at the peach canning factories. Beginning
their life together steadfast with hope.

Full of Thought and Fun
December 30, 1954

The father of midwestern school girls.
A voter for Adlai Stevenson.
Oak bookshelves and
butterfly chairs
in Indianapolis.
Lover of jazz and red wine.
Driver of fast blue Chryslers.
Explaining death to your daughter.
“It’s only going to sleep and not waking.”
Putting your back out twirling the hula hoop!
Bringer to our Mom of crystal necklace, earrings.
Taker of girls to apple orchards, museums, symphonies.

Courageous and Strong
November-December, 1965

Back home to McLean after Christmas in Vietnam.
Vigorous, passionate advisor
to military, Designer of air traffic control
to avert needless deaths of helicopter pilots.
Frustration of coldness and insularity of powerful few.
Audacious, chastened. Aware of passage into
strong current of life.
Watchful of daughters who followed him plunging
into stormy depths, who tried to be no less brave than he.

Zest for Life
December 30, 1976

A man of vitality, salt and pepper hair,
ruddy cheeks, full of health. Home to the states
from Belgium. Meeting and greeting wife, daughters,
and granddaughter. Robust, a joker, delighted to be
on the cusp of early retirement.
A connoisseur— generous with drink,
wonderful food, gentle with conversation.
Brimming with astonishing plans
for a solar house he would design and build.

Master Builder
December 30, 1987

Jaunty with his black eye patch. Terrific wit,
pleasure in the house he’s master of. Proud
host at party for Larissa’s birthday–
chimichanga and champagne.
Piling the granddaughters into the back
of the pickup to speed over the hills.
Whee!
Laughing with coyotes. Awaiting
the sunset fold into the starlit sky.

Soul of Love
December 30, 1998

The depth of your presence and love
remarkable when breath falters, when
bones creak, when blood sugar crests
and falls, when stamina fails, when sleep
is hard, when the heart races,
you remain centered as the saguaros,
concerned and caring as the mule deer,
your radiant spirit inspiring us all
to meet what comes
with the soul of sharing.