I didn’t mean to leave,
It wasn’t my time to go.
I had more jokes to tell,
More laughter, more fun you know.

To seek those elusive fishing holes
To bag just one more pheasant
To fight to land a giant halibut

To tip a bottle with my buddies
To win another cribbage game
To dance with wild abandon

To deep fry another turkey
To blacken another cod
To smoke another salmon
To wet another rod

To walk “The Child” down the aisle
And tease her one more time

To share another laugh with Mom
Over the day’s best Pedro hand

I planned on being an “Old Timer”,
To get lazy with the Linda I love

I didn’t mean to leave so soon,
I loved you all so much.