One might think a strong man whose
Temper, rage and fists always led,
Would lend himself to binges, booze,
Yet it was as if he would not let any agent
Assuage his anger whether alive or dead.  

His crops and garden fared better by far
Than animals, friends and kin. Strong
He was, tall able to beat the hardest task.
But cancer would ferret right from wrong .  

It worked to tame Hoppy’s broken soul.  
Forcing anger’s trigger to rest on hold.
Big C coiled and struck him all at once, quick
Kind does that, leaves its victim deadly sick.  

Neighbors helped wife and grief struck boys
Crop and harvest truck with hope and wishes
That something good would stop the beast
Tearing at a good soldier as the pain increased.  

You know the end, and soon after he went to ground
The house that had stood good stead for a hundred
Years or more, was emptied, left to rot. A wind bound
Twister drilled the logs like straw bits and dandelions.  

You can see the faint outline where it stood, or
Perhaps the mind’s eye just conjures it there.
The road goes on, people pass as before
Not aware the house is gone because of war.
 
The free bird flies and breezes furl the grass.
Time let the worst of hurts and grieving  pass.