My dad

Only several are remembered from a lifetime of your presence.
Few and far between is fair to say,
Just like your Christmas presents.

1) Sitting with your army cap on, slipping from my head, as I simulate your movements from the newspaper you read. Turning page's as you turn them, gently puffing on your pipe. Mum says "Look, he's copying you. Oh, you're so alike".

2) Excitement building up, a long hot summer, watching you blow up, puff by puff our dinghy. Which I love, and Mum is singing.
You swam and pulled us down the river, underwater, came back up. The water was so clear, and it felt like you adored us.

3) Our same old dingy, on a beach. Paddling, just you and me. Heading for the surf, ignoring all of mother's warnings. Overturned, a massive wave is crashing all around us. Underwater turning till my knees hit solid ground, I try to push back up, I think I'm stuck, I'm gonna drown. Lifted up and saved by you, in just the knick of time, I cry. A hug and thankful laughter. We survived, you and I.

4) At home, a lazy Sunday, and you're mixing up this stuff. To fix the car apparently, but god it smells delicious.
Passing you the tools you need and getting our hands greasy.
Everything was easy and it felt as if you needed me.

- That's it, all I have.
All that you left me with.
My Dad.