Somewhere Deep I Knew Poem by Glen Kappy
Somewhere Deep I Knew
from 'Remembering Kappy'
Somewhere deep I knew my father loved me.
Like all parents, like all people
he had his past—the nurture and the nature—
and his present to contend with.
He was often short on patience—angry—
with the business pressures, family frustrations
and his body with its troubles.
But I knew it—knew it deeper than
my early memories of treats he brought
and time he took to teach us baseball.
Somehow in those infant years the touch I felt
the smiles I saw, the proud paternal gaze
was passed unknowing into me—embedded in my cells—
so underneath it all—and there was much—I knew.
This is so wonderfully fulfilling. The details are vividly personal, your evocation of your father is precise and unique - but the impact is universal: this is how we reconcile with a parent, with recourse to memories AND AN OPEN HEART IN THE PRESENT, GOOD WILL ALL AROUND; in a larger sense, it's how we reconcile our real-lived lives with our past expectations. We must make peace with our lives, because that destiny transcends our wishes and dreams.
But I knew it—knew it deeper than my early memories of treats he brought and time he took to teach us baseball. Somehow in those infant years the touch I felt the smiles I saw, the proud paternal gaze was passed unknowing into me—embedded in my cells— perhaps the way a plant responds to light and music. So underneath it all—and there was much—I knew. - - - A very well written poem on father-child relationship.You as a child felt your father's love.As you grew up you could well understand the causes of your father's angry exterior.
hi, bharati! good to see your name and comments. first, thank you for reading my poem. next, this poem expresses a conviction of mine, that if we love our children, know it, even with our mistakes in child rearing, our children will know that love deep within them. i've wondered if this poem might be better understood by people of my generation who had fathers who were more distant and less demonstrably affectionate than they tend to be today- or to people in cultures where this still holds true. hope you're well in every way. -glen
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
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5/8/2024 8:26:59 PM # 1.0.0.1119
What a beautiful tribute to your father, in such a subtle and graceful way. I love this poem, Glen Somehow in those infant years the touch I felt the smiles I saw, the proud paternal gaze was passed unknowing into me—embedded in my cells—
thank you, geeta. i'm glad you like it. i'm convinced that the love we show our children when young is critical. when the teen years come with their clashes, we as parents can know that deep down our children know we care, that the seeds we planted are still there. in my case it was important becoming a father myself to help me recognize my father's particular way of loving. -glen