The One that Got Away

There are times when I really miss him,
There are special times when I think I see him.
Odd times that spring up out of nowhere,
In a mall, a car, in my dreams, it could be anywhere.

He never turns to make eye contact, or to say hi,
It's like when he was alive, always saying good-bye.
Slowly, through the years, his face starts to fade,
Along with the father and son promises he made.

When I'm alone in my boat, the empty seat is Dad's,
I use his old lures, that used to make him mad.
By watching his movements I learned how to cast,
He was ahead of his time when fishing for bass.

In the field, while hunting for rabbits, squirrel and deer,
Deep in my heart I know that he's near.
The gun that he gave me when I was just ten,
Is the only one I use, it's accuracy I can depend.

As I grow older, my Dad I become,
It cannot be helped when you are the son.
If he could just see his son as a man,
If he could just hug me or just shake my hand,
If he would just turn and say hi....then, I'd understand.