One Good Man

One Good Man

They said they needed “a few good men.”

He wanted to answer the call;

He was less than five foot four;

But very few have stood so tall.

At first they would not take him in:

His height did not fit their plan;

When the war came, the standard changed,

And the Corps got one good man.

You can say he wasn’t perfect;

Many faults he had

You can say that I am biased,

Because I called him, “Dad.”

But just ask me about him,

I’ll tell you what I can--

I will not hesitate to say,

“He was one good man.”

In summer he took me fishing,

Hunting in the fall;

He loved God and nature, too;

And he wanted me to know it all.

Anger never raised his voice—

A quiet man with peaceful ways—

Standing tall as one good man

Throughout his earthly days.

If you needed what he had

Or just a helping hand,

He was there to meet that need;

If you fell, he’d help you stand.

He took care of his family ties;

Taught me how to love the land;

Now, I’m trying to walk that road—

My Dad was one good man.

©Stan Sanford

June 14, 1996