We leaned on you, when we were small.
You seemed to hear our every call.
We leaned on you, when we were older;
We always found a sure, strong, shoulder.

We leaned on you, as we rode along
On a camping trip. You were big and strong.
We grew accustomed to your strength,
To the love with which our hearts were linked.

We never thought of losing you,
Or knew how hard it would be to do.
We're still just little boys, you know.
And, to say good-bye just hurts us so!

When we looked at you, all dressed so grand,
Your hat beside your still, still hand ...
We leaned against your satin bed
And listened hard, as words were said.

I think, perhaps, I'll always lean
To a mem'ry that is, oh, so keen!
I leaned on your knee when you taught me to whittle.
I leaned on your arm when you told me a riddle.

I'll lean on your mem'ry. There are thousands more
That I can pull back, from my hearts door.
One day I'll be grown, with a boy just like me,
And I'll remember...how little boys...need to lean.

Copyright^© Joan Clifton Costner