Birthday Poem for Daddy

Daddy, also known as
Herb Pendergraft,
is 82 today!

Some people call them Father, familial formality
showing deference, respect, too much detachment
for me, raised in the South to enjoy the man who
gave me life, keep him close enough to cuddle.
In Ireland, he'd be Da. In them there hills, as he might
say, perhaps I'd call him Pa. Papa, Dad, Pops,
my old man, the one who taught me fishing and kites,
corny jokes, to harmonize,
make spaghetti, take disappointments
in their stride, importance of
bear hugs and sunscreen.
I may be 55 and gray (beneath the color)
but he'll always be our Daddy,
so much love in that short word.


(c) Ellen Gillette, 2013