Mother can I ask why my father's breath haunts him, Follows like a ghost every word he says Why his weary face, with lines cut by a knife Tells me I live with a man tired of his life All the times we laughed All the times we cried I will remember them And always cherish them Your grandfather did lay years before his time I was just a toddler when I first heard his lines You sat me on your lap, a poet's voice unwind Sorrow faded yours within looking out at mine All the times we laughed All the times we cried I will remember them And always cherish them