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Clive reflects on his father.
He was my Father and I was His son a strange sort of man if ever was one.
He lived eighty years and then He was gone, and I sort of miss Old Harry.
He combined the Qui vive with melancholy and rarely did He ever act tenderly
but what we don't get we don't miss so to me, it was His way of being Old Harry.
He loved the morning and dawn's early light started napping at lunchtime and slept through the night.
To paint cook and clean that was our mother's plight, I think the war injured old Harry.
He was lax yet volcanic imposing his view. He would suddenly blow though His reasons were few.
And then He'd calm down try to make up to you; more like Old Nick was old Harry.
He didn't have much for most of his life His greatest treasure He found in his wife
And though He inflicted a great deal of strife He did love His Wife did old Harry.
Thank God for Mary a mother all through She raised seven children Her daughters were two.
For the best things we are all our thanks go to you. We didn't get much from Old Harry.
She always stood by when He showed us the door to balance His madness to beg and implore.
If there's one thing we owe Him our gratitude for, it's for Mary the bride of Old Harry.
Life is a test to see if we care to check our reaction to burdens we bear
the Christian ethic means love we must share, think kindly of tortured Old Harry.
All round the world His children are spread it is something our mother considers with dread,
she goes over the memories she keeps in her head; you can't share a home with Old Harry.
He loved us in ways that we couldn't detect was afraid that his feelings might show I suspect.
Mother knew of his problem made up for his neglect, it was difficult being Old Harry.
It isn't all fun when you've been born a man not much personal choice lies within heavens plan,
we don't have control never had never can. Can you see yourself in Old Harry?
I'm happy to say that when out on the street He was popular witty a pleasure to meet,
and then he'd come home and begin to retreat; house devil street angel Old Harry.
If when reading this story you feel sort of sad rejoice in yourself and start to be glad
you have just passed a test, you just can't be all bad if you feel a bit sad for Old Harry.
I'm no different to you we are all made the same a Mother a Father is part of the game.
It's all up to you what you make of your name I use the best parts of Old Harry.
He did the best that he ever knew how the memories are warmer as I look back now
at a principled man who would never kow-tow, that much I'll say for Old Harry.
He had his moments if not publicly He and His Wife got along famously.
He was her man right or wrong do you see? The good tamed the bad in Old Harry.
As God redeemed us so She redeemed him without her he would have been out on a limb
With virtue his sins she was able to trim. The love of her life was Old Harry
An end to this story there will have to be I trust that it's message you're able to see.
It's compassion for others who less fortunate be for even God smiled on Old Harry.
Clive Baldwin ~ April 7 1990.