'53 Luscombe Tail-Dragger

53’ Luscombe Tail-dragger

A dilapidated sheet metal shed
Doors barely hanging on rusted hinges
Waiting to embrace Father’s pride and joy
A 53’ Luscombe, new, slick, and sleek
Silver, light like unfurled angel white wings
Father stands with carbon copy son, hands
Clutching family history and sermons
With the left and right the family future
The genuine smile so unlike his job
As the mayor of Nelson, Nebraska
God fearing, righteous a working man’s man
City figurehead by day, father daily
To four sons and a church full of God’s flock
Husband to a typical, thirty’s girl
Trying to do right by family and God
Mayor preached the good book over airwaves
To the homebound from surrounding cities
The voice of a bard singing parables
Instilling morals to every faithful soul
Flying the tail-dragger to conventions
Taking his son while spreading his strong faith
Son follows through life in father’s footsteps
Learning scriptures, soaring with unshakable love
His life laid out on his own little destiny
But life doesn’t always go as planned
Fog as thick as maple syrup mixing
With Old Man Winter’s sloppy white kisses
Father’s impatience spelled impending doom
But love doesn’t wait for weather he told his wife
Father asked Mother to give the boys his love
Asked her to wait for dinner until he returned
Told her he loved her and would be home soon
Faith couldn’t save him that cold frosty morn
He left Corpus Christi on a prayer and a song
God must’ve blinked 20 miles from home
As the plane’s landing gear tangled in a wire fence
A crumpled, jagged metal ball told the story
Of Father’s last flight, yet not all was lost
One survivor crawled out barely holding on
Father’s friend, stronghold, companion in faith
Held Father’s last request made on his final breath
To take care of his boys and hold his wife’s hand
Lee gave his word and started making the plans
To break the word gently, and pick up the pieces
Lee never got the chance, his injuries severe
The messengers of death wore shiny silver badges
That reminded sons of Dad’s 53’ Luscombe
Soon to go on the auction block to save
The family farm and make sure they ate
Mother went to visit Father’s companion
Regaling him with tales of the boys antics
The pain of losing Father and surviving
Day to day, learning to live life again
How the boys were being so tough and strong
The flock offering their hearts and their prayers
Bringing tuna casserole condolences
Lee worked hard to get through life’s deep trenches
If Korea didn’t kill me, neither will this
A man was as good as his word back then
His even more valuable worth it’s weight in gold
He recovered except for the deep scars
On his person and in his heart beating
With the unshakable faith that saved his life
And love for his friend and his newly adopted
Ready made self contained family a gift
Lee tried to do what was right by his word
And took on the Mother and her four sons
They eventually married despite one son
Who still idolized the man who was now gone
Son’s faith left in tatters, God had failed him
And so began his long road into hell
At eighteen, Son had quit school and married
Started drinking socially supposedly
Six years and six wives later, met another
Woman who had a tiny baby daughter
Decided to be just like Lee and married
Four years later Son had his own little boy
But alcohol tainted his own fond memories
Of trips to the park, and soaring on the breeze
In a 53’ Luscombe with bright silver wings
With Father riding co-pilot smiling
Son started showing all signs of alcoholic
Grocery money spent on best friend, Jack Daniels
Job going down the drain like his past dreams
Another forgotten boy two years later
His family was falling like an airplane stalling
His life in a tailspin nowhere to turn
Son’s children learning to hate God in return
For all the nights of cruel beatings, harsh words
Grumbling stomachs like a train coming through
Bruised pride from being left to beg for food
Off their neighbors and friends because of his bar tab
God didn’t love him and didn’t love them
Fast forward ten years, Son’s life is in pieces
His children hate him and cancer eating
Him alive, thanks to Jack Daniels and the Marlboro Man
His wife has left, talk about Independence Day
His tears can’t save him now, but maybe God can
Son’s doctor tells him to rest before surgery
Son tumbles into a restless night’s dream
Into the night he soars in a 53’ Luscombe
Memory reminding him of love and joy
Son wakes to find the cancer gone hope soars
God gave him one miracle; he’d have to work for more
So Son goes to rehab wanting to be sober
Hoping he can win his children’s love again
Promising to be more like the Father
Who flew away in a 53’ Luscombe
The man who gave him love, hopes, and the dream
Many apologies given, forgiveness asked
Thank yous made to those with white shiny wings
Son’s now 53 and sober for 15
Children call and come stay for holidays
With children of their own, Son now a proud Grandpa
Together they soar through sunny blue skies
In a 53’ Luscombe, bright silver wings
Grandfather sitting co-pilot smiling
Remembering his Father with white angel wings
Telling tales of this tail-dragging family history
To his own future a twinkle in his eyes
One 7 years old the other barely 2
Silently whispering a thankful prayer.