My Father's Ears

This Week's Magpie Tale is in honour of my dad, a musical genius!  He could play ANY instrument by ear and was often asked by schools and local organisations to play piano for them. I thought he had magic.He also had the voice of an angel - despite his 40 Woodbine a day and beef dripping lifestyle. Miss you dad...!

A symphony-of-ages
Was my father to the earth
A music maestr-au natural
From the moment of his birth

He'd feel a certain melody
Pitch perfect, lingered notes
Voice carried on by  placid waves
Some words in double quotes

Music was his passion,
His biggest will to live
If nothing else was there to take
It was always there to give

I remember all the instruments
Even tiny ones he blew
If music be the food of love
I was nourished through and through

I still can hear him playing
Although he isn't  there
Passed on through genes, to tots and teens
Till grey streaks wisp our hair

Any type of music
Most, he very much approved
He was open to all genres
Left us happy, special, moved.

Now you're with 'The Big Man'.
I bet you've sussed those harps
Coz you never understood those books
Of majors, minors, sharps.

You see, he never had a teacher
Nor read a music sheet
Just listened so intently
Captured every single beat.

All it took was seconds
For him to fathom out
What instruments were made to do
No need to write about.

The above picture is of my father and his other musical compatriots during the war. Keeping the spirits of many alive with a tune or two. He's on guitar.......