Papa

Papa was a simple man papa loved his farming land

Guess I didn't understand please forgive me papa

You can't paint a picture of a man like papa with something as empty as words

Cause there's no way to measure the thoughness of timber

And compare it to the softness of birds

Papa was both and yet he was neither just a hard working God fearing soul

He gave what he had to the ones that he loved and I guess he loved me best of all

For I was the oldest and we were the closest we worked that old farm side by side

I guess that's the reason it hit me the hardest the morning that my papa died

All I could think of was how hard he'd worked and what little comfort he'd found

I guess that's the reason I hitched up the mule and drove the old buggy to town

I picked out a lot in the big cemetery in the shade of a tall maple tree

Figured it's the least I could do for my papa

After all the things that he's done for me

We gave him a funeral fit for a king and then we laid him to rest in the sod

Somehow I thought that in that big pretty place he just might feel closer to God

The women were crying as they passed by papa the men stopped and all shook my hand

Most of the mourness had gone when I looked up and noticed this white haired old man

He was dressed kinda shabby and he walked with a cane his voice was shaky and low

I had to look twice before I rocognized him he used to work for us a long time ago

They told me this morning that the big boss had died

And I thought that I should come around

I went out to the homeplace to tell him goodbye

They told me that you done brought him to town

I remember your papa used to say that when he died he didn't have but one request

He wanted to be burried out dare on that farm

He said there wadn't nowhere else that he could rest

When I heard what you'd done I fatched me a shovel found me an old paper sack

I scooped up some dirt from up near the farmhouse

And thought that I'd just bring it back

I hope you don't mind if I just sorta scatter these few little pieces of clay

It ain't gonna mess up your pretty green grass he just might sleep better this way

Guess I didn't understand please forgive me papa