I’d like to honor my wonderful 91-year old father by entering his absolute favorite poem from the 17th century written by Robert Herrick. My father loves classical music, and used to spend many hours in his basement “man cave” caring for and listening to his vast record collection. If we kids behaved ourselves, we were each encouraged to join him and listen to pieces he would select for our enjoyment and listening pleasure.
One of his record albums was of old lute music. On the back of the jacket was a poem written in old Gothic font, with a drawing of a cittern - a kind of lute instrument played with a quill as a plectrum. My father so loved that poem that he once asked me, his then 14-year old daughter, to make a large pen and ink drawing replicating that same poem and the cittern instrument to decorate his basement room’s wall.
For me, this poem by Robert Herrick encapsulates my father’s soul - his courage and his undaunted optimism in the face of a world that battles to crush our hopes and expectations. His life example as a staunch, faithful man of God and this, his life’s poem, have infused something of their spirit into me as well; a priceless gift in this troubled generation, for which I thank God on my knees.
I love you, Dad.
”Give me a man that is not dull,
When all the world with rifts is full;
But unamaz’d dares clearly sing,
Whenas the roof’s atottering;
And though it falls, continues still,
Tickling the cittern with his quill.”
His Desire - by Robert Herrick
One of his record albums was of old lute music. On the back of the jacket was a poem written in old Gothic font, with a drawing of a cittern - a kind of lute instrument played with a quill as a plectrum. My father so loved that poem that he once asked me, his then 14-year old daughter, to make a large pen and ink drawing replicating that same poem and the cittern instrument to decorate his basement room’s wall.
For me, this poem by Robert Herrick encapsulates my father’s soul - his courage and his undaunted optimism in the face of a world that battles to crush our hopes and expectations. His life example as a staunch, faithful man of God and this, his life’s poem, have infused something of their spirit into me as well; a priceless gift in this troubled generation, for which I thank God on my knees.
I love you, Dad.
”Give me a man that is not dull,
When all the world with rifts is full;
But unamaz’d dares clearly sing,
Whenas the roof’s atottering;
And though it falls, continues still,
Tickling the cittern with his quill.”
His Desire - by Robert Herrick
Comment