Poem for Dad

What Does Your Father Wear?
Anne Call House 2008

They dressed him in a long white gown in 1921
Henry and Violet Call welcomed their first son
They dressed him in overalls to do his chores
But if he went swimming, he only wore his drawers

He bought cardigans and loafers, properly equipped
As a Utah State student on academic scholarship
But a military uniform now wraps his slender frame
Marching boots and camouflage were Richard’s fashion game

It was in this officer’s uniform before he went to war
He married Lorene Donaldson in 1944
Now a soldier wears the soldier’s clothes, but right next to his skin,
He wore the temple covenants and the promises therein

The battle’s done the war is won freedom now rings clear
With civilian clothes upon his back he starts his new career
He climbs into his suit each day he climbs into his job
He climbs the ladder of success with kids and cats and dogs

He surely liked the dogs we had, but not so much the cats
Shedding long hairs on his shirts and pants and hats
As I look back and remember Dad I think it’s a toss-up
Do I think of all those suits on Dad or now hanging in the closet?

He was no slave to fashion, but wore respectable attire
A Soil Conservationist 30 years then happily retired
Now those suits just go to church, and everyone knows
He's more comfortable now back in his farmer’s clothes

Levis and red suspenders are now his special charm
He bought them when he bought his 200 acre farm
Now he mostly wears the dirt stirred up by plow and wind
And wears the sweat of honest work before the light begins

My dad is dressed in admiration by all those he knows
Clothed in layers of matching love that exponentially grows
He’s 87 now and still works on his farm each day
He wears a look of contentedness-- it fits him well, I’d say

But when the time has come and God sends for my father
I hope the angels and St. Peter will listen to me, his daughter
Don’t dress him in robes and fancy stuff,
White would be alright I guess but that won’t be enough.

Wearing crowns and flowing gowns – he’ll have none of those
My dad’s at heart a humble man needs only simple clothes
So let him in through heaven’s gates he’ll be the same charmer
Yes let him in, dressed in white, but as a working farmer