Toast to The Man with Freckled hands

heres to the man with freckled hands

and laughter like a song

heres to the house of the rising sun

turned out that I was wrong

that face and stride so full of pride

that voice and huge embrace

has all but gone yet lingers on

in the features of my face

i thought that I could do this

i thought that out of grace 

i thought and thought 

yet life is not

with out an empty space

there's a vacuum in that dial tone

a number with a name

to hear him on the other end

would settle all my shame

i miss you dad

more than I can bear

though time keeps slipping through

these echoed halls

and vibrant walls 

are hollow without you

so heres to the man with freckled hands

and a legacy of love

may your life

with all it's strife

bring glory to God above

heres to the one that I called dad

while walking in this skin

heres to that heart of gold

and life so bold

my dreamer and my friend

.......

matt francis