You are here: Home | Online | Poems | The Passing of my Father

The Passing of my Father

'The following poem was written during a period when I was back up north on Tyneside, attending to my deceased fathers' affairs, and in reply to my wife Susan saying she had enjoyed me previous poem entitled 'Fantasy'. She is happy that I am able to share it with others so it in now way is meant to be intensely personal'

For all the world He came to die, a man despised and scorned,
Born to show us what to do, and how we now are warned
That life is short, and death is near, we'll never know the day
When suddenly we'll shed our cares, our frame will soon decay.
The time we have is precious, a meagre span of years
It passes by so swiftly, and then we'll know the fears
Of what he said - of what we've done - and where our soul will go?
To Hell perhaps, or Heaven blessed, only He can know.
So while we're here let's try our best, and pray for strength from Him
He'll help us when the going's rouge, when everything seems grim
He promised us eternal life, and I for one believe
That if we seek, and ask, and trust, we'll never need to grieve
Our lives will change - we'll find that peace the world could never give
We'll show by our example - just how we ought to live!
So fight the fight, I know it's hard, and I am living proof
That we are only human, we often bend the truth
To suit ourselves, to get our way to seek for admiration
When actually we've lost the way, we're heading for damnation!
Without His help we have no hope, so when we sometimes fall
He'll lift us with his tender hands if on His name we call
I once knew His blessed touch, when far out on the sea
And though I often times forget, He's always there for me!
"Seek and ye shall find!" He said, "Call, and I will hear!"
"Ask, and I will give to you!" - What need have we for fear?
So - help me Lord - I need your love, without it I am lost
No matter what my sins may be, You'll never count the cost.
Be with me on every step I take on life's short road,
And share with me my cares and woes, the burden of life's load
Then, when my heart will be no more, at least I will be certain
That all my sins are washed away - I'll face the final curtain
With peace of soul I'll fly to You, Your Judgement I will face
Knowing that I've done my best - I've run my final race.

Written by Peter Wilson