A FAMILY STORY

  Our father had it rough—Depression, War,
  Four gritty years in Europe, Africa,
  On Eisenhower’s staff—it surely bore
  Into his soul to fight the swastika.

  Then afterwards the hustle to catch up—
  His job at Trico, night school at UB,
  Buying rental properties—Hup!  Hup!
  All for security, prosperity.

  Although he was too busy to attend
  To the kinder, gentler arts of fatherhood,
  We three kids always knew we could depend
  Firmly on his providing for our good.

       And what he lacked in tender loving care,
       We found in Mom, whose heart was always there.

*