The Land of Grimney - The Illustrated Adventures of Cora Pearl, aged 12

My dad was not among the ‘Greats’
He did not cross the plains of Africa, though he wanted to
Or find the cure for Cancer, though he wanted to
He wasn’t Errol Flynn or John Wayne
Though he’d like to have been
He was not among those who were the Greatest of men

My dad
Led a little life
This big man who
Whilst the city of London bustled and busied and grew around him and the sixties
Began to swing
Went to work every day
To take care of his people

My dad
Led a loyal life
A married man whose gaze set upon my mother long ago
And never left, except perhaps to eye a beauty on a Bournemouth beach just now and again
And wink and laugh with his friend Bill
But he went home every night
To take care of his people

My dad
Led a quiet life
Interspersed with outbursts of the rudest words
He started no wars (that I know of)
He rarely partied, that was not his thing
For he was home, taking care of his people

My dad
Led a compassionate life
And he taught this to his kids
Kindness to animals, “keep your hands to yourself”
And the elders did not just get respect but time and thought
And lots of dinners…cooked by mum and delivered by him or us kids
Still that was him taking care of his people.

My dad
Led a secret life
Well not so secret really
He was not the well-known gambler known to all as ‘Lucky Doug’
Who rolled home drunk at three A.M. minus his pay-packet
To hungry kids and frantic wife
Although his bookie must have rolled his eyes at my dad’s grin
When he had a win
Of 67p
He was, you see, taking care of his people

My dad
Led a local life
With few ventures afar
Although he travelled Canada
Left to right
Depending how you hold the map
And he saw many ports in Europe
And some of Oz
But mostly he was home
Taking care of his people

My dad
Led a cautious life
He didn’t spend his money much
Except on the business of living
The drudge of bills and all those
Necessities mostly
Any extra went in the bank
To take care of his people

My dad
Led a determined life
If he could sweat the small stuff
He usually did
It was “do as I say, not as I do”
We didn’t though, quite rightly
Even so, he took care of his people

My dad led a humorous life
He always got the joke
This big man with a wide toothy smile
Who took it seriously
The taking care of his people

My dad
Led a loving life
Not that he ever said such
He didn’t smother you in hugs or kiss you
Very much
He didn’t lavish words upon you or spoil you with gifts
But there was ice cream for a sore-throated child
There were holidays two a year, two more than many got
And all the nagging shouting stuff to make sure your teeth were clean and you wore your glasses
‘Til boys might make passes
See? Taking care of his people.

My dad led a dog’s life
That is to say
He was a dog man
Right at the end from his hospital bed he’d say
“How’s my hound then, he alright?” (Even though he’s my dog)
Still taking care of his people

My dad
Led a long life
Became an old man, a grandpa
And that seemed easier for him
He could play and answer questions and then hand ‘em back
Looking on from a distance
But still taking care of his people

So, yes, no sword-fights through the burning castles of Spain
Or Last Stands at Fort Apache
No fantastic discoveries or cures for the cold
Or taps on the shoulder from his grateful Queen to rise ‘Sir Douglas of Holloway’


Just a life spent
Taking care of his people.

wonderful, I think your Dad and mine would have got along beautifully !

Here's to your Dad!

*raises a tankard of the finest Grimney ale*

Just taking care of his people...sounds like a hero to me.

*hugs*

x

_________________
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...