Hello Again

What is this woman

so soft of heart,

I knew from that moment

it was love at the start.

Her eyes are but portholes

into her soul,

revealing such secrets

from a deep dark hole.

Though we’ve only just met

we’ve sat here before,

at a much earlier time

on a far distant shore.

Each time we touch

my mind takes a spark,

it reaches so deep

to hit a sweet mark.

Surely I know her

a most sacred friend,

spanning the time

from beginning to end.

A Mother, a Sister…nae

surely a lover,

dear Father of time

from the past uncover.

With lips so soft

I start to remember,

a long time ago

when they felt so tender.

Gary R. Cramer

September 20, 1980

Hi Dad

It’s taken too long

this is way overdue,

so many times I’ve

wished to talk with you.

But you weren’t here

I had lost you twice,

a son needs his dad

that would have been nice.

The first time you left

I was only twelve,

leaving me so empty

feelings never to shelve.

Again it happened in ‘76

at the age of 52,

you had died alone

only your puppy and you.

Not found for three days

your stomach distended,

very little doubt it was

the booze why you ended.

I had very little choice

trying to blaze my own trail,

without you in my life

I was left feeling so frail.

I’ve missed you so much

in every way,

always feeling incomplete

both night and day.

To talk about girls,

would have been nice,

to have played catch

more than once or twice.

But there were more important

things I needed from you,

a fatherly hug or a kiss

an “I’m so proud of you”.

There were too many times

when you scared your son,

good times too few

yet we had some fun.

Memory so strong

a day I remember most

you, Mom and I fishing

from rocks at the coast.

You baited my hooks

you cast line for me,

but how was I to know

it all came with a fee.

I kept losing my bait

my hook was unloaded,

then you lost your temper

once again you exploded.

Tossing all our gear

out into the ocean,

with nary a thought

without any notion.

The night Mom sent me

into that dark bar,

to find and fetch you

out into our car.

She drove away

me without a vote,

you told her to stop

your knife to my throat.

All to often I’d dream

of you back in our den,

together a family

starting all over again.

Because you see as

your son I’m still proud,

you’re always my dad

I’ll shout it out loud.

What I wouldn’t give

for again us to meet,

because without you

I’m eternally incomplete.

I still love and miss you Dad!

Gary R. Cramer

June 15, 2018

Hello

Won’t you stop and

get to know me,

not just another traveler

with a destination yet to be.

I would like you

to be my friend,

one who will walk with me

down life’s path to the end.

I’m in need of one

with ears so keen,

they can hear my heart whisper

and know what I mean.

Take the time to stop

and listen to what I feel,

you’ll find within this shell

all in life that’s real.

There’s love and tenderness

concern and passion,

fear and hate with

loneliness of strong fashion.

Thus far in my journey

I’ve seen many flowers,

a few I’ve picked

and enjoyed their powers.

But an occasional blossom

neither here nor there,

can compare with my garden

which I value so rare.

Won’t you stop and

get to know me,

and let happiness

become our shade tree.

Gary R. Cramer

June 11, 1981