A Tough Banana

by Vibeke Lindhardt

2011

Written Dec 23 2011 to Bent who is often telling me how he wanted to be a tough banana when he was young. He went to see at the age of 15 and spent 11 years at sea.

The mother loved him

This sweet gentle boy

She saw his kindness

When he shared his toy

He jumped and skipped

And walked to the beach

Picked up groceries for Mom

Which was out of her reach

But he grew up and

Wanted to prove that he could be

Like his Dad

A sailor at sea

He sailed with the Ship

On the ocean deep

With the guys whose

Habits he liked to keep

Drinking beer, having fun

Getting tattoos on the run

Being rowdy and rough

The goal was to be tough

His mother was sad

She thought he was mad

Where was the boy?

Who had shared his toy?

His Dad was confused

And thought the boy had used

Him as an example

To gamble

Where was the boy that was caring?

The sweet little soul

That they rose so well

The one that was sharing.

He grew old and kind

And it was always on his mind

The pain he caused his parents as young

And he made a song

A song about parents

And the place he loved to roam

When he sailed on the ship

His thoughts were always on home

He never forgot the teachings of love

That his parents devotionally gave

His tears, caring, love and sharing

Will follow him to his grave.