and my Father cried

and my Father cried... Lacenot I have never seen my Father cry, Not even once a trace of tears, not to say he was unyielding Not to say emotions passed him by; I just never saw him cry And yet I knew he felt I knew he sensed. Yet he was strong A shoulder, a hug, a handshake firm To all others but not to him Unyielding I know I said But not for unyielding’s sake Rather to say “I am here …” “I care, my strength is your strength” I know he’d say “I am here and I feel” For the absence of tears spell not; The absence of emotions I’m sure he had his reasons Had yes, for he is no more Old married couples they say; Draw energy from another His left with my Mother No reason for him to be here But her death saw him cry I saw him cry, First time ever, First time ever, First time ever, and before that I just never saw him cry…