Louder than Ever Before

I was three years old,

When I wanted my sister's toy fire truck.

It sat on her floor,

I picked it up,

Took it as mine.

It was so easy.

Boy, was I in luck.

Dad inquired,

And I lied.

Due to wandering eyes,

He learned the truth,

And his rebuke was

Louder than ever before.

I was nine years old,

When I played my first soccer game.

I was too timid to score,

Not fast enough for midfield.

I played defense,

My Dad's favorite.

Constantly distracted,

I often made mistakes.

Dad shouted instruction

And encouragement

Louder than ever before.

I was twelve years old,

When my baby brother died.

Old enough to feel,

Too young to understand

Just how to move on.

Those tickle fights

And funny noises

He and Dad shared

Would never happen again.

But, that's when I saw

Dad break down and bawl

Louder than ever before.

I was eighteen years old,

When I graduated high school.

I'd forgotten to care,

More times than I could count.

I'd lost more chances,

Than I can ever make up.

Dad made sure I knew the difference,

Between the school's best,

And mine.

At the end, and still too short,

I ran to him, gave him a hug.

That's when I heard his heart beating

Louder than ever before.

I was not ready,

When Dad intervened,

Showed my son,

what a real hero looks like.

He laid still on a hospital bed,

In the place of an endangered child.

It hurt to know that

Dad fought for every breath.

His weak hand waved me over,

Pulled my wrist closer.

He whispered in my ear.

"I love you,"

Louder than ever before.