A Father's Day tribute to Dick Larlham - The Old Man. He gave up a great deal to make a dream come true for the woman he loved. I think it's the greatest strength he ever showed.
Five feet eight, he stood… and slim.
No fat and no fear that any of us could see.
Shoulders square as epaulets, he had…
With arms and chest that high-steel work
Had muscled up and sculpted.
His stomach, rock-hard and ribbed,
Was small and tight,
And when he walked into a room,
You knew that he was there.
He’d grown, older than his bigger brothers,
Into strength of character and arm,
But from his sisters he’d also learned…
It was not weak to give a little,
And back away sometimes.
Five feet ten, she was… slender as a reed.
Tall and straight, and strong as ary tree.
Hair thick and black, she had…
And a heart that wouldn’t let her turn away
From someone else’s pain.
Her smile, soft and full of care
Was quick and wide.
And when she walked into a room,
You knew that she was there.
She’d grown, taller than her older sisters,
Into strength of quiet heart and soul,
But from her brothers she’d also learned…
That body strength could also serve,
To reinforce that love.
Seven times his leg would break,
Against the curling cable,
Whipping in the icy air… tension free,
Snake-deadly, cold and inescapable,
It sent him, leg screwed and pinned together,
Into that traction bed, where she his nurse,
Would find her life-long love.
It was her dream that he agreed
Would be their two lives’ work.
To make a place to heal and love,
The youngest child whose life was pain.
And hers would be the face and name that came
To be the symbol of courage and of love
While he stood by her side and smiled.
He was her strength when failure loomed,
And his arm was hers to hold,
Heart-strong, sure and loving
He stood beside her as her second…
Her strength borne up by shoulders square and
Arms of steel-made muscle,
And stubborn love of her.
When she was gone, what they had made
Remained to comfort all
Who came to heal at Hattie’s place,
That Dick had driven her to build.
But Dick could only mourn his love
And fade away in grief, for she
Had never known – she was HIS true strength.
© 2009 - All Rights Reserved R C Larlham
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Comments: 36
Wow. Very nice. Very nice. Thank you for posting this.
very well written, thanks for posting this
I so wish I could of met her, I wish just the same to of met him.
They would have loved you, Renee.
They sound like they were made for each other, and as often happens, one chooses not to go on without the other.
Thank you for sharing something so special. The photos are wonderful too.
Lovely tribute, they were made for each other. Could not live without the other. Peas in a pod. Loved the photos.
Such a great story in rhyme. A beautiful tribute. Love carries us on.
I too liked the photos. I like the old black and whites.
nice history, thanks Chuck
Very nice. Thanks for sharing
A lovely tribute touching their time.
Great love story! Thanks for sharing.
cool
A very nice tribute.
Perfectly written. A well thought out tribute.
That is so beautiful, could make you cry.
Featured in the The Triple Name Club
Nice tribute
A magnificent~heart infused tribute~ =)
What an absolutely wonderful portrait and tribute in one.
Wonderful poem! Sure they missed by their families and others who were lucky enough to know them!
Great tribute.
Well written piece and a lovely tribute as well.
Wonderful tribute my friend!
Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
How very beautiful!
Not often enough do truly fine Folks such as yours become immortalized through the written word. Please consider having this tribute etched in bronze, on a plate with room for the pictures, and perhaps encase the whole in acrylic, to be placed where many can view these wonderful people and read the Joyful Humanity of their True Nature, and also of yours, Chuck.
Sure would like to see some pictures of your Father's building work, I shall check into your posts; and glad I clicked this one from my messages page.
Sorry, Glenn. I have no photos of the tanks and tank farms and bridges he worked on. I surely wish I did.
thanks!
Chuck, this gave me chills. I would love to have known your parents. Are you not posting to READING BOOKS ONLINE anymore? I would love to feature this beautiful tribute.
Sorry, Barbara. Sometimes when I click to jump rather than just a line at a time, I bypass a group or three. Now rectified.
You are now featured at READING BOOKS ONLINE!
Very moving Chuck. That's quite the tribute.
Wonderful tribute, Chuck. I think I'd have liked the old man.
Thanks for posting to Fugitives from Ignorance, Conformity, and Peer Pressure