He Worked In The Garden

He Worked In The Garden
By, Valerie Valano


He worked in the garden
From sun to sun
He gave his all when
Life was fun

He wiped their tears
When they cried
And settled their fears
When they wanted to hide

One day he sat
Close to their side
There he wept
For the first time

They said,
Daddy, we'll pray
Real hard for you
But we don't know what to say
Or how To fix you

Tell us why
Why…
You chose this lonely road?
Tell us why
Why…
You became so cold?

Why didn't you stop to think
About all that could have been?
And why would you rather drink
Knowing it could all end?
Daddy, Why?

The years rolled by
And still he cried
Lost in the bottom
Of his beer

He slowly stopped
working the garden
Year after year

Wounds scarred their hearts
As they grew into adults
Each of them
still loving the man
who tore it all apart

It happened one night

With no warning in sight

He died in the arms of his son

The prayer came to light

With his last breath that night

His journey had just begun

Life came from death

As he took his last breath

Released from the bonds of his addiction

As his son painfully wept

He finally laid to rest

The disease that caused his affliction

They stood at his side

With pain in their eyes

Quietly, their heads bowed

They cried enough cries

Laid to rest his demise

There are four gardens now

RIP Gilbert Gabriel Chacon

1945 - 1999