“It’s funny, ” I said
to Henry F and Dilly
in the Teacher’s Center,
“how all our fathers are dead
and how all of us experienced
a tortured relationship
with the old man
leaving scars.”
Henry F said, “He was a cruel man
beat my mother
and when he beat her
I vowed revenge
when I got older
but when I did get older
I never took that revenge”
“The man threw you out of
the house because you married
that Panamanian woman? ”
“Didn’t speak
for two years
called him
didn’t call me back
then cancer struck
declined quickly
in the hospital
I went with my wife to visit
wanted him to bless
the marriage before he died—
childish
but I wanted it.
When I arrived
my mother said, ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea
for her to see him.’ I said, ‘Ma, he’s dying
can’t still have such feelings.’
‘Your father’s very stubborn.’
‘I’m stubborn too’
‘Go up alone or not at all, ’
my mother said. I was heartbroken
my dream of harmony
shattered
then
I remembered when
he didn’t attend
his own father’s funeral.
I went upstairs alone
now so frail
not the man
who beat my mother
lost weight
eyes closed
I shook him
a yellow film dulled
his eyes
making the pupils
appear distant. ‘Hello, dad, ’ I said
didn’t utter a word
only stared
kissed him on the cheek
left
no reconciliation
dead
two days later
refused the funeral.
like him
when
his old man croaked.”
How tragically beautiful in thought and word, Charles. A paradox of suffering, but you creatively expressed it for us to feel what you did. I love your expressive words here. Are you really just five? :)
hearts hurt no matter their denial our pain their pain intertwines and what do we do when all that is left is a bitter good~bye? When we are left holding the bag? We make the best because we are what is left. This is a poignant and beautifully portrayed part of life. I relate, my father and I we were not close and I got to him an hour too late as he died of a heart attact. Good~bye was not an option.
a gentle touching poem where every day is a holiday when that special one is at your side and every moment is eternal matchless beauty a fine poem
a gentle touching poem where every day is a holiday when that special one is at your side and every moment is eternal matchless beauty a fine poem
Thanks, thanks, good Charles Chaim Wax Charles Chaim Wax-You -my beloved home
dear charles, you have this wonderful knack of converting otherwise ordinary narratives into wonderful poems.i like and appriciate them all.are a teacher? and remain at 6.best wishes.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
First, I want to thank you for your feedback on some of my work. I always appreciate hearing what you have to say. Your poem moved me...stirred up some emotions...but that's what a good poem does...i look forward to reading more of your work!