I've not said this -

Dad, i do think you are oft times lonely -
living in a house full of us ladies...
having only a loving wive and seven lovable daughters -
i wonder if you had ever wished otherwise...?

I know you had a hard time to provide for all of us -
and your parents and youngest brother and sister, too;
and what with work stress at the office -
and you as the chief must lead;
and financial problems to make ends meet -
you had your head and your hands full!

I remember you didn't talk much to us when we were young -
and mum saying you were a shy guy, especially among ladies!
all i remember was how you took us for picnics during weekends -
and how we were chased, and caught, and dipped into the sea!
and though we gulped down quite a few mouthfuls of the saltish sea -
we grew up to love the sea, and your legacy has lived on - we picnicked...

My early memories of you also covers the fact -
that you had to drown your pride, and run next door,
to seek a neighbour's help, to rush me to the doc -
whenever i had my asthmatic attacks, in the wee hours of the morning...

Later in life, when you were sick and weak and in pain -
with cancerous cells spreading over your lungs,
eating into your healthy body, you talked long to us -
as equals, as adults, no longer through mum as our mouthpiece...

And that fateful April holidays in 1988 -
i remember you were really gaunt and weak;
i remember feeding you bread dipped in Milo -
which was all that you could even swallow...

And on your deathbed, you looked around -
and singled us out, one by one, to say your last;
and when it came to my turn: i knew what you wanted to say -
and promised to be good, and to take care of myself;
while we told you to go, 'coz you were in pain -
we would take care of each other, we promised...

And then you were gone , leaving behind the memories -
of how you taught me question tags, and formal letters;
and that one letter that you wrote to me, when i was 'banished' -
i've kept it to today, and cried over its contents, still,
'coz you spoke of the family's love for me; and mine for them -
and taught me to think before i act; and never to act selfishly...

You left memories of beautiful roses in our little garden -
and sunflowers, tall and straight one season, too...
you left us memories of your hunting days, too -
and all the praises we hear of your badminton skill...

Most of all, you taught us to be good at what we do -
and to love the things that we do;
you gave us our first puppy to love -
and taught us to be fair and just - like you...