Early to work and late to bed,

Days of Tonka trucks and tee ball that smell like gasoline,

Gentle as a father’s kiss on his babe’s head,

Those days of pastoral fields and family evergreen,

You were bigger than the whole sky above,

Large calloused hands which hung the sun and moon,

Every day you smiled and you said it was because of love,

Always having time for just one more hug just one more cartoon,

The sound of slapping little feet on hardwood floor,

In the kitchen a pot boils as momma asks us to wash up,

While I pitter-patter to greet daddy at the porch door,

To greet my best friend in the world as his deep voice proudly calls me bub,

I wanted to be strong and tall just like you someday,

Work long days and breathe love into all that I do just like you,

A lifetime's worth of being haunted by the smell of fuel wishing you could stay,

Stay here with momma and me like in those days of gasoline-scented love, true.