Oh Dad Poem by Shalom Freedman

OH DAD POEM WRITTEN ON THE TWENTY- SECOND YAHRTZEIT OF MY FATHER 11 Sivan 5769

Oh Dad we are all together again
Ma is here and Jakie and Joycie
And Bubbe and Zayde Freedman
And Bubbe and Zayde Zeibert
And Abie and Nate and Loukee and Lakie
And Uncle Jack and Reddy and Davy and Molly and Larry
We are all together again
And we are sitting in the yard on First Street
Or maybe in the garden in the back on Centerview Drive
We are all alive
And most of us are restless
And a few deeply depressed
And the old people ache and are mostly silent
And the children are few
And one of them wants to hide
And get away from it all.

And with all of us alive
It’s no longer necessary to regret or grieve
Over anyone’s absence
Or mourn that you or Ma or Jakie is no longer here.

We are all as we were then
We are alive
And no one is ever going to die
And somehow in some magical way
I cannot understand
But God who made all certainly can
You- all these people I love so much
Are having in your lives whatever kindness or goodness or love or achievement or blessing,
You didn’t have then
Which will make you happy now.

We are all there
All of us
Alive
Back again
And no one has died and no one will ever die
And we are happier than we ever were then
And all of you will be happy forever.

Isn’t it wonderful Dad
Not a single one of has a single regret
It’s just so much better than it ever was
And you Dad are happy and have for once in your life
A peace of mind
You need not so desperately cry or pray for.

Dad oh Dad Ma oh Ma Jakie oh Jakie.