Four Fathers & an A-“man”
Dedicated to my Father & all menKao chee ming…. June 2011
Men men men, lelaki-lelaki, Father. ./ papa,..daddy,..dan suami yang di hormati.
You too, are amazing …. yet also complicating !
To small kids, … you're a super hero, a macho man ! !,
To young ladies,.. everything you also can,
But once married,. your ego … wives cannot stand ! You’re also hard to understand.
That’s d’reason, each time by creation, you can only do only one thing,..but women,multi tasking.
So you let them do every other thing, … how complementing him, …he he he ! ( pun intended )
My Papa is caring and lovable
In the 60’s, papa cycles 5 miles with my sister and I on a bicycle,
Across to other side of Klang town, to the only playground.
We’d play & laugh as we clown around.
Yes, Papa… I do remember you cycled that far.
My Dad is a teacher, respectable & wonderful.
In the 70’s, after school, dad”ll take me on buses to KL's only swimming pool.
Tho’ only 2 hours at The Weld pool, we’ll have endless fun, splashing under the sun !
And we’ll end with sluuurping soup after a plate of saucy chee cheong fun.
Yes, Dad… I do remember that.
My Father is magnanimous + self sacrificing.
When inflation hit in ‘74, ‘Kung Foo chow’ and ‘Hokkien mee’ at $1 was no more.
Supper was infrequently less, ….but father will eat not, so that we can have the rest.
You"ll hide yourself in the room. But now, I know in your heart, there’s a magnanimous room!
Yes, Father… those suppers, I do remember.
But now with the time left, you're half deaf,… I (have to) shout at you (tears) … I confess.
Now you are wrinkled & untidy………………… I will soon too, be freckled & clumsy.
Now you are im-punctual and slow, …………. and my impatience grows & shows..
“ Where is my son that I loved ?” , …..…. Silently, (tears again)………..… you must wonder
The little boy on my bicycle,
The happy son splashing fun in the sun, reaching for my cuddle
The hungry teenager, to whom I sacrificed all my supper.
So in Papa’s existence,. ..”God, our Father, help me exercise patience and tolerance”,
Pa, we’ll speak more, tho’ in quiet silence …..and spent time with you in your quiet presence.
Now I know, why old folks are quietly silent…You’re watching us display our intelligence & ignorance.
Whilst you are forgetful, I forget my son is watching & need to be mindful. God, our Father is too.
How will my son treat me ? Will he model after his daddy ?
I thank God for you, my son. You’re so young but Godly already.
I thank God when you said … no need supper, not hungry, save the money.
I thank God when you said … no need a semi-D. A terrace please, it’s just us 3.
You grew up without a PS2, i.pod or i.pad …and yet you still say “I love you Dad”.
When we holiday at the best, you yearned to return home, to our very own nest.
Son, assuredly I can rest. You"ll be a greater Father I know, better than your Dad.
And when I’m old and all alone ……… & you put me in a nursing home,
I’m aware, is because that you care ... not abandoned, not forgotten in despair.
Men men men, father papa, hubby dan suami yang di hormati.
So invest God the Father in your family. Love your own mommy & daddy, kalau masih ada lagi.
For in the end, you see, that's how our children will model after you and me.
For when Fathers invest God in the family, then the following promise will come to being…
Verse 6 of Psalms chapter 23 “..Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me”.
A-“Man” ! ( pun intended )
