Daddy's Yellow Roses

As I have done many times before, I thought of my dad when I passed by the yellow roses that greeted me as I entered the grocery store.  They were his favorite flower.  They were the flowers that draped over his casket soon to be 43 years ago.  Now I have lived more years without my dad than with him, as he was only 42 when he died.  Though he died of incurable sadness, the yellow roses always make me smile, as I think of how he loved to laugh in happier times, as well as how he loved people.  I remember his helping us write poems for homework assignments.  Here is one in his memory:

Yellow roses, reminding me of you,

Yellow roses, packaged or in dew.

Lovely flowers tie me to the past,

Bring to mind questions to ask.

How much would you have loved

Grandchildren’s sweet smiles?

Laughed over baby’s births,

Cried at family’s trials?

Lives of service, music, animals, travels,

You so would you have enjoyed; no denial.

A father forty three years ago

You were to sister, brother, and me.

But at forty two years, you sought release.

Life was too hard, hope to scarce,

Troubles doubled up, heart too pierced.

Yellow roses trailed you, atop your grave,

Leaving dear ones’ hearts broken

At not being able to save

A father whose laughter sometimes

Brought yellow rose sunshine

In too brief measure

To lives he treasured.