Papa

Everyday my papa would work To try to make ends meet To see that we would eat Keep those shoes upon my feet And every night my papa would take me Tuck me in my bed Kiss me on my head After all my prayers were said And there were years, of laughter, and of tears But through it all Together, we were strong He was strong The times were rough And Papa He was tough And Mama stood beside him, all along Growing up with them was easy Time just flew on by The years began to fly They aged and so did I But I could tell That mama, wasn't well Papa knew, and deep down so did she So did we And when she died Papa broke down and he cried And all he could say was "God, why her? Take me." Every day he sat there Sleeping, in a rocking chair He never went upstairs Because she wasn't there Then one day, my Papa said "Son, I'm proud of how you've grown" He said "make it on your own" "And don't worry, I'm O.K. alone" He said, "there are things you must do" "And places you must see" His eyes were sad as he As he said goodbye to me Every time I kiss my children Papa's words ring true He said "children live through you" "And they grow, they leave you too" I remember every word, that papa used to say I kiss my kids and I pray That they'll think of me That way, some day