Over ten years ago, the most influential man in my life passed away at the age of 92. He had many of the qualities of what I referred to in my most recent post as a Whole Man. He might not have had all of them for the Divine Masculine is a thing that might never be completely reached by any of us on this mortal coil but he came close in many ways. He had his weaknesses; a fiery temper and a stubborn side as well but he loved deeply and despite an innate Welsh toughness, he was not afraid to cry.
Just over a year ago, my father in law died as well. He influenced me greatly in the relatively short time I knew him. He had his weaknesses but he loved deeply as well, and could be quite stubborn too but he also held qualities of that ideal...the Whole Man, that I strive to move towards with each step in my personal evolution.
I wrote a poem in honour of my father a decade ago and read it at his funeral service. I read it again last year at my father in law's Celebration of Life ceremony. It has, as you will see, a description of some of the qualities that make up the character of the Whole Man I spoke of. Here is that poem:
Role Model for a Man
Hunter, gatherer,protector and provider,
Instincts of primeval man,
Yet History thinks we have evolved.
Look around outside this place,
Tell me if those thoughts are true.
Men doth hate their neighbours
They abuse their mates and harm their families,
They shout and kill their fellow man and try to rationalize their ways,
It leaves one with a bitter taste
And sours youthful hopes
But all one needs to restore that faith and remember why we're here
Is to think upon the life of one we all held dear.
Hunter, gatherer, protector and provider
A part of every manly man,
Yet such is only partly true,
Think of our wondrous father
And know that this is so;
Fathers must be hale and strong
They must protect and provide for all their family
They work and sweat and try and lead the way
And in the end the best will leave a hopeful legacy,
A memory of these things but also tears and joy,
Of stories and listening to your hopes and dreams
And being human just like you or I.
Hunter, gatherer, protector and provider
Yet a man who wielded love as well as hammer,
Who would always put his family first,
A role model for any other
Who wants truly to be a man.
-In Memory of my father, Gomer William Morgan Robinson-
February 20, 1912 - July 20, 2002
-And my Father in law Robert Brent Dorrington Kelly-
May 28,1946 – August 12,2012
Just over a year ago, my father in law died as well. He influenced me greatly in the relatively short time I knew him. He had his weaknesses but he loved deeply as well, and could be quite stubborn too but he also held qualities of that ideal...the Whole Man, that I strive to move towards with each step in my personal evolution.
I wrote a poem in honour of my father a decade ago and read it at his funeral service. I read it again last year at my father in law's Celebration of Life ceremony. It has, as you will see, a description of some of the qualities that make up the character of the Whole Man I spoke of. Here is that poem:
Role Model for a Man
Hunter, gatherer,protector and provider,
Instincts of primeval man,
Yet History thinks we have evolved.
Look around outside this place,
Tell me if those thoughts are true.
Men doth hate their neighbours
They abuse their mates and harm their families,
They shout and kill their fellow man and try to rationalize their ways,
It leaves one with a bitter taste
And sours youthful hopes
But all one needs to restore that faith and remember why we're here
Is to think upon the life of one we all held dear.
Hunter, gatherer, protector and provider
A part of every manly man,
Yet such is only partly true,
Think of our wondrous father
And know that this is so;
Fathers must be hale and strong
They must protect and provide for all their family
They work and sweat and try and lead the way
And in the end the best will leave a hopeful legacy,
A memory of these things but also tears and joy,
Of stories and listening to your hopes and dreams
And being human just like you or I.
Hunter, gatherer, protector and provider
Yet a man who wielded love as well as hammer,
Who would always put his family first,
A role model for any other
Who wants truly to be a man.
-In Memory of my father, Gomer William Morgan Robinson-
February 20, 1912 - July 20, 2002
-And my Father in law Robert Brent Dorrington Kelly-
May 28,1946 – August 12,2012
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