A Celebration, written with Love, to my father-in-law, Bill, the man that I am Proud to call: DAD

You’ve always been a gentle man,
Who’s lived a lengthy, gentle span.
A Gentleman, polite to all,
Your virtues great, your faults but small.

Many skills and trades you’ve learned,
And praise for jobs well done, well earned,
Sporting prowess promised too,
Before you sailed in Navy Blue.

Friendships in the forces formed,
While around you conflicts stormed.
Remembered still in later years,
The sunlit smiles and shades of tears.

The boy who left, not yet eighteen,
For five long years was hardly seen,
Far below the masts that towered,
Long distance love by letter flowered.

But once the long war years had flown,
Romance between you two had grown,
The beauty of your loving wife,
Was by your side, right through your life.

Your beaming smile and winking eye,
Gave your gruff remarks the lie,
Your cheeky japes oft raised a smile,
To make the caring more worthwhile.