Ashes in the Bay

Our dear sweet dad, its been almost a year,
since the day you passed away;
yet you're still alive in our hearts,
where you live with us every day.

The memories, they come and go;
some of them happy and some of them sad.
But no matter what we miss you,
and long for a bit more time to be had.

We come together in San Francisco,
in this place of your youth we gather.
One year later honoring your last wish,
bringing some of your ashes to scatter.

Memories linger from Nineteen Eighty-seven,
on a special trip we took just us four.
Our single Dad and us three kids,
to the California West Coast shore.

A trip to Fisherman's Wharf of course,
and a boat ride around Alcatraz as well.
We fed the birds from our young hands
and marveled at the oceans smell.

A trip beneath the Golden Gate,
where my dad told childhood stories.
He could swim across that bay,
where baby sharks to him were no worries.

He was tough and strong-a survivor,
and he wouldn't let much beat him down.
We knew he would always protect us,
we felt safe when he was around.

Childhood comes and goes, its true,
but the memories of youth remain.
And when you lose someone close to you,
the love lives on, comforting pain.

So today we join together again,
to scatter your ashes in this bay;
but its not to say 'good-bye' dear Dad,
because in our hearts you'll stay.

~~

In Loving Memory of my Dad
John M. Chase
7/18/1950 - 7/27/2009

San Francisco 7/2010