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[David Nelson Bradsher]

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for Charles Delaine Bradsher, Sr.

He’s smaller now. He never was that tall,
even for top-shelf pots, or basketball;
though at the Y—at lunchtime—there he was,
launching a shot amid the trees, because
a man with limitations either ends
disabled dreams or, grasping hold, ascends.

He’s taller now. A stroke, and age, combined
to wilt his legs, but that ambitious mind
survived the lightning of a sudden crash,
rising above the dross and ember-ash
to help the disbelievers understand
a man with Phoenix-feathers in his hand.

[MichaelFirewalker]

O, sweetheart, this is wonderfully fine!----has he seen it yet?----you both send much light into this dark world----michael can see the depth and breadth of both your souls' vision expanding exponentially into supra-luminal levels of awareness...and I feel soooo proud of you...

blessings,
michael

[David Nelson Bradsher]

Thank you, Michael. I showed it to him this evening. He has trouble with showing emotion, but it got him . It really got my mom, though. I truly appreciate your reaction to this. He's done so well in a difficult situation.

[sandpiper]

awww. I don't want to touch this one. sully it in any way. I think it's an absolutely lovely tribute.
for a thought... would a period after 'basketball' and capitalizing 'Though' work?
and what's the measure of a man? not in short or tall.. that's for sure.

[Ron Wallace (Scotshawk)]

If poetry's job is to move us this one has reached the mountaintops. We've talked about our father's before, and I hope you know how this touched me. Ron

[David Nelson Bradsher]

THank you, Piperoo and Ron.

Piper, I see your point. I think I'll go with a semi-colon, though, since I don't want a full stop. Thank you.

Ron- yes I do recall that, and I'm most appreciative that this one got you. I think my dad was proud of it.

[Sherry Thrasher]

This leaves me misty-eyed. Blessings to you all.

Sherry

[David Nelson Bradsher]

Thanks, Sherry.

[Jonathan Morey Weiss-Namaste47]

I'd be remiss in not mentioning the wonderful allusion in the final lines. A giant of a man...........definitely chose the ladder.

[David Nelson Bradsher]

Thank you very much, Jon. I'm glad you caught that play on things.