My Dad was deaf and didn't communicate with me in the usual way, but he had his ways to teach me life's lessons. In this poem he teaches me not to be so carefree running out onto a giant log jamb.

My father was deaf,

We never talked that much.

My father was strong,

I never argued much.

His eyes were steady, his reach was long,

I never ventured far.

His rule was the rule,

I never dared questioned that,

when I got rebellious, he kicked my butt.

When I asked him a question, he would ask me more.

My father confused me,

He challenged me,

He at times neglected me.

I remember fondly, as a child, running along water soaked logs, searching for speckled trout.

My fathers warnings as I ventured forth.

He fell between the logs.

His legs rest upon one log his head on another.

In shock I returned to his side,

he looked up at me, and like the Buddha he laughed.

This use to be my way of life upon these logs, Johnny!

Perhaps I have lost my footing?

At the time I thought I had the upper hand.

My father beneath me, my hand out reached to retrieve him.

I pulled him up, so proud I did save him.

It was many tears and many years later I realized his fall was to save me!