My Father, In White

My father, in a white shirt: I see him again, through the far windows of time, He only rarely wore a white shirt during his life, And only in performance of his duties, for an organization or job. White is a sign to me of his earnest nature and simplicity; He had no aspirations to whiteness, He was happiest wearing no shirt at all. In my dreams, white clothing symbolizes his innate nature. When he lay dying, he still remained sweet: He tried to smile, before death's own door. Now white is all he wears, Now white is where he lives; White are all his vestments In the white folds, of his timelessness.