As A Boy

Well I grew up in the country.
But things were never too bad.
I have one person to thank.
My always hard working dad.
Sometimes there wasn't much for Christmas.
But we always had something under the tree.
At least one pair of shoes to do all year.
Before himself, dad always thought of me.
I slept in a very cold room.
Back then that's what we had to do.
One wood heater in the living room.
But dad's bedroom was cold too.
We went to the grocery store once a week.
It would always be on payday.
Sometimes we would almost run out of food.
Somehow dad always found a way.
We hardly ever went on vacation.
Maybe a quite picnic on a summer day.
But not too far away from home.
Dad had worked overtime for extra pay.
I never told you while you were here.
Over twenty years now you have been at rest.
You were the hardest working man I ever knew.
And dad.......... You were the best.