Rough Around The Edges

He whistled through his teeth

and snapped his gum with his tongue

He had freckles on his cheeks

and auburn hair when he was young

He joined the Army at sixteen

to keep up with his brother

Handsome in army greens

and then, he met my mother

They raised six kids together

and made our house a home

He was good under pressure

and I can still smell his cologne

The after shave that he wore

as he got us ready for school

And though he seldom swore

he could enforce the rules

"Name your poison," he called

as he'd take orders for breakfast

Eggs and pancakes were sprawled

that we devoured then exited

He'd rub his scruff on you cheek

squeeze your knee, till you cried uncle

And when ever he'd sneeze

he'd cry out, "uncle-bo dunkle"

On the way through our days

one fell after the other

Then everything changed

the year we lost my mother

Sixty four years together

now he's living without her

He promised forever

and that's just what he gave her

And to each of us, too

he gave everything that he was

The best dad anyone knew

his greatest gift sure was love

We grew up with no money

but were richer than most

I know it may sound funny

but my dad was the goat