Frank Poem by John Staveley

What shall I wear to speak of my dad’s life?
A new grey suit, a tie and boots that pinch.
What can we learn about the man who’s left,
Besides his thoughts and deeds and everything?

I know he was a Doctor and he healed;
I’ve seen certificates that show it’s true.
He was the foremost expert in his field,
He knew your business just as well as you.

But what do I know about his inner life,
What he believed, what he thought was right?
What did he see when he closed his eyes,
What would leave him smiling in the night?

I smile because on an Irish beach
We swam with dolphins forty years ago.
Do I remember because we really did,
Or do I recall because he told me so?

Behind the jokes the messy clothes and hair
There was a truth he fought to keep concealed;
He loved us all more than he could bear,
My father loved us all, and he healed.

Some measure us by what we choose to wear
Some measure us by whether we’re refined.
How do the faults we started with compare,
With what we’ve done, with what we’ve left behind.

How much more could such a man have done?
I will not measure. I cannot judge an inch.
I’m proud to say I am my father’s son
In my suit and tie and boots that pinch.