Poetry Friday today is hosted today by a poetry wordsmith extraordinaire, Mary Lee Hahn at A Year of Reading. Thanks, Mary Lee. Everyone, please visit to check out the wonderful words shared.
It's Father's Day this Sunday. I wrote a poem for my husband, to thank him for the wonderful father he has been, and now grandfather.
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| With our youngest grandchild-Imogene.
Read Between The Lines
– To my husband, a good father
Rocking, walking, out of
sight,
whispers lulling in the night.
Once in a time, telling sweet
stories;
faces opened like morning
glories.
Masked adventures, crevasse
jumping,
swinging high and legs a
pumping.
Slicing in the peaches,
cranking for ice cream,
licking on the paddles,
creating little dreams.
Driving to practices, soccer,
stage, LaCrosse.
No griping, groaning - never
made a fuss.
Dried the tears, allayed the
fears, still the hugging way,
kept the shadows back forever,
at least for another day.
Wish I could see all this
again, memories continue sharp.
My husband makes the best of
dads-filling up my heart.
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Linda, that's a lovely tribute to your husband. My grandfather also made the best peach ice cream (before he had dementia). It's a hard road to be on. My cousin recently named his first baby after our grandfather... it's heartening to see that good memories are stronger than the pain and loss that dementia brings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tabatha, it was both easy and hard to write, but something important to do.
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DeleteA precious day pictured here and lovely words. What a blessing for him to have you as the "rememberer" of his life and all that is good in it. This picture shows another day you can hold dear.
ReplyDeleteI like that 'rememberer' part, Donna. Thank you!
DeleteBeautiful poem, Linda -- all those wonderful memories and images. It's always those little things that mean so much. Love "faces opened like morning glories." Sigh.
ReplyDeleteSpecial times & I am thankful for them, Jama. Thank you!
DeleteWhat a lovely poem and a perfect father's day gift. I agree--memories can be sharp.
ReplyDeleteThank you Liz. Fathers are special & we'll celebrate this Sunday with lots of remembering.
DeleteBeautiful poem, Linda. My favorite line was this:
ReplyDeleteDried the tears, allayed the fears, still the hugging way,
kept the shadows back forever, at least for another day.
Powerful.
Thank you Katherine. That protection part about fathers is an important part of my growing up, too. I was blessed with a husband who also thought it important.
DeleteA beautiful tribute to your husband. You captured such vivid, precise memories. There is joy and pain and love woven through all your words.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee. I appreciate your words-so true!
DeleteWhat a lovely tribute a father and husband. If anything there is life to this poem. So apt for me to read this as Sunday is Father's day. Thanks for sharing this poem Linda.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Life between fathers and their children is a particularly special bond. I hope I captured some of that.
DeleteLinda, you captured the "background ordinariness" of dads so perfectly-- the making of ice cream and then handing over the paddles to be licked by someone else, the driving and driving and driving, the pushing on the swings. Gorgeous memories!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol. There are lots of little moments to remember, aren't there? I imagine you have a few of your own with the boys!
DeleteThat is such a touching and vivid tribute to your husband, I am sure he will love getting it on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteThank you Katya. Sometimes it's good to make a poem especially for someone.
DeleteWhat a special gift for your husband. You've inspired me to do the same. Thank you for sharing this very touching poem.
ReplyDeleteHow nice for your husband, Renee. Thank you for using this as inspiration!
DeleteI believe it was Fellini who said that art is autobiographical - this poem is just that, Linda. You painted Arvie with your words - and I KNOW him to be a truly wonderful father, one whom I tried to emulate in my life. Your beautiful words allows us to both find ourselves in him, and lose ourselves in the thought. I absolutely love reading your poetry!
ReplyDeleteStill working as Anonymous, huh? You are dear to write, & I'm happy you like the poem, Jim, also a rather wonderful father! Cheers to you!
DeleteLovely, Linda. I'll bet he grinned at such a gift.
ReplyDeleteThank you Dori. He'll get it Sunday so we'll see what he thinks!
DeleteSimply perfect!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle.
DeleteI can feel the love you shared in this touching poem. He sounds like a wonderful man.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you, Linda. Yes, he definitely is.
DeleteWhat a precious picture! I love the lines about making peach ice cream. I remember doing that, with an old crank machine, at my aunt's house. Such a sensory experience.
ReplyDeleteWe still have the old crank machine & made ice cream last year with it, now the grandchildren lick the paddles. Thanks Laura.
DeleteI bet your husband loved this! Thanks for sharing it. Beautiful memories.
ReplyDeleteHe'll see it Sunday, with his gift. I imagine he will like it. Thanks Ruth.
DeleteThe photo accompanied by your observations of your husband's incredible fathering makes me think about you being behind the lens of that camera. It is through your lens that this world of bloggers is able to see all the goodness that is your husband.
ReplyDeleteFilling up your heart, indeed--and spilling over into ours!
Thanks Christy for the sweet words. It is a good pic on a warm day last winter. Photos keep us in that very place in time, don't they? You can tell it's winter-nothing growing!
DeleteBecause we know each other through our written words, I imagined Linda the writer/poet, mulling over all the memories, searching for the right words and images, wanting to craft something equal to the man she loves...and she did. Thank you for choosing to share this with us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Tara. Sometimes it just has to be public, I think. I appreciate your words very much.
DeleteThis is a beautiful tribute Linda. I imagine it was a bit therapeutic to write this. I loved the comment you made too. Both easy and hard to write but something that needed to be done. I bet your children would treasure this as much as your husband would. Thank you for sharing this special memory collection with us!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome, Robin. As I said several times earlier, sometimes things are private, but other times, I feel like I want the world to know how I feel. Thanks for your sweet comment.
DeleteThanks Mom, that was really sweet. I am having trouble seeing the screen because I am crying. I am thankful that Carter and Ingrid will have wonderful memories of Dad. Dad was and is a great dad. I wanted more time with him. [tears]
ReplyDeleteThank you too! I was going to give you a copy too. You and Nathan made it easy to be good parents! Let's talk tomorrow & plan for Sunday. Hope recent days have been good!
DeleteWorthy tribute, Linda - thank you for sharing on this Father's Day weekend and wishing your family many blessings.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robyn. I appreciate your wishes.
DeleteThis poem is so gorgeous Linda. I can tell each word was chosen carefully. It's a moving tribute to the man who helped you raise your children and is a dear grandfather.
ReplyDeleteHi Stacey, and thank you for these words. It was a time to put some love into words, good for him but also good for me. Hope your Father's Day is a special one.
DeleteLovely poem and beautiful memories. I continue to appreciate and am touched by your story.
ReplyDeleteThank you Juliann. I appreciate your support, too.
DeleteHi Linda, this is truly a beautiful poem. I love how your poems speak such truth - and always laced with love and kindness and faith. I hope your husband loves this poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you Myra. You are dear to go back & read all my posts. Love the support!
DeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to husband, father, grandfather. So many delightful stories wrapped tightly in your poem. A treasure for sure.
ReplyDeleteCathy
Thank you Cathy. What a nice surprise to find your comment. I know you write about your family too, & I love hearing about them.
Delete