Only in dreams can I recall his strength,

His laugh, his face, tattoos on his fingers.

Those fatherly words that soothed at great length,

That feeling I hope forever lingers.

He once crossed borders to far away lands,

Now he visits from ethereal planes.

Fields and factories had calloused his hands,

Now no evidence left of earthly strains.

What I would give for this to be real,

To be back to when he snored in his sleep,

Then he'd awake for a second base steal,

And cheer on the Cubs for a three game sweep.

Those days have passed and now, sadly, are gone,

But I'll hold his hand tightly 'til the dawn.