DAD:

Of Mater and regal Pater you were duly born,

An only child, arriving one warm sultry dawn,

The predicted son to a privileged sunny home,

But having no siblings, you forever walked alone.

Born in old Ceylon, across warm tropical seas,

Amidst fragrant spices and exotic herbal teas,

Son of rubber plantations & white Colonial rule,

Bought up by nannies and sent away to school.

Disciplined from a distance, coldly & sternly loved,

In boarding school, be-suited, be-hatted & be-gloved,

In sad lonely cold climes & so far away from home,

Learning all the classics from ancient & dusty tome.

Daddy, I know you too were once a small little boy,

Who played with hobby-horse, air & little dinkie-toy,

What happened to the heart & soul of that little sad lad?

Who was told to behave & who was beaten when bad.

University came & then away to the army you were sent,

You fell in love, marriage came & then all passion spent,

You had me, your daughter & then you had a little son,

And you gave me & my little brother the African sun.

You did well & proud by your little family, Queen & nation,

Protecting, obeying & serving without any asked explanation,

You helped friends &all who came within your friendly wake,

No questions ever asked, only done for your goodness sake.

Not perfect to be sure, you committed your mistakes too,

But loving you, I find it very easy to pardon & forgive you,

Had you lived, today you would have turned eighty-six,

You are gone now & it is your gentle smile that I truly miss.