My Father Great!

My father was a man
Who had a long life-span;
He lived a simple life,
Despite recurrent strife;
He had a humble birth
And a peaceful death;
He left children seven,
Wife and went to heaven;
He was a great teacher,
And a part-time preacher;
He loved his profession,
But not his confession;
A man of piety,
He lived in anxiety;
He prayed so fervently
To God and frequently;
He ne’er loved luxury,
And rarely was in fury;
With heart of compassion,
He hated a mansion;
He did his duty well,
And in the end fell ill;
All children cared for him,
Keeping him, neat and trim;
One day, he passed away;
His body stately lay;
Kith and kin wept with love;
And God said from above,
“This is a beloved soul,
Who fulfilled his great role:
Earned his heaven on earth,
Left a void by his death!”
His Happy Birthday
Falls on Jan, 19th today!
Copyright by Dr John Celes 19-1-2006