"These Precious Few Hours..."

I wanted to share the following post, which my dad had written:


"I started this poem several weeks ago, and this morning thought I better finish it. I sent it to the printer just moments before Richard crossed over into glory at 12:40 PM. Today is Wednesday, December 24, 2008.

"It was during the night Monday that I dreamed (a very real dream that woke me up) an angel knocked at the side door, poked her head in and called out "Hello?" Then she came in and began to busy herself with preparations of some sort. Said her name was "JB." I thought at the time that Richard's time was drawing near, and this morning thought to myself that he had less than 24 hours on this side of the river.

In these precious few hours…
We’ve heard the laughter and watched the tears
Of love from a life lived full of years
Echo off the walls and across the lawn
of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve had friends and family come in the door
With smiles and food and much much more
To honor the love that came from the halls
of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve watched a warrior worn with pain
Stay bravely true and with no shame
Give a wink, a smile, his love to all
In the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve kept short nights with little sleep
With miles to go and shifts to keep
While lives fly by on the road out front
Of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
We’ve realized those lives would be
Far better off if they could see
more loving truth like is displayed
In the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm

In these precious few hours…
One may think time stilled
While others say they’ve years to kill
But eternity stretches on out the door
Of the house and barn of the Ferguson Farm"

© 2008 S. Allen Patterson