A Man Full Of Love

A man full of love

showing hate and fear,

his hand on a bottle

his eyes shed a tear.

Surrounded through life

with family and blame,

through distorted eyes

all he sees is pain.

A mighty man

so big and strong,

what hurt him so

to make him go wrong.

A wife and son

who loved him true,

and yet a mystery

they never knew.

He gave me a gun

he gave me a knife,

what I wanted most

to be part of his life.

Our times were full

both good and bad,

now dead and gone

God, I miss my Dad.

I was yet small

when he went his way,

confused and hurt

I knew not what to say.

One thing he taught me

as a very young lad,

life can be

so unmercifully sad.

Gary R. Cramer

July 13, 1980