Great grandfather stood like a stone
As the ship crossed the horizon
To dropp off the world as he knew it
His shovel beard, his barrel chest
Heaving a little, wordless
Letters would come in litters, like little puppies
From his lost children, Look at me, look at me,
But never bound at his heel in the surly mud.
He could use the pages to line his heavy boots
Softening the lonely walk behind the plough
He could use them to plug the holes
Where the rats came, gnawing away at his heritage
Loss, tugged at his heart like wool on thorns
Few now, to pass the salt, to chide, to praise
His saplings gone. The sky a red pyre, bleeding
What is a patriarch without a clan?
It's a sad situation for those leaving and yet again it's painful for those staying behind. Thanks for sharing.
It is really hard and sad to leave ones land and go through much tribulations to adopt a foreign land. One always misses those who stay behind. Very nice. Congrats for poem of the day.
What is a patriarch without a clan? Very touching question. So are the realities of life., sometimes. Heartiest Congrats on the Poem of the Day.
Excellent poem, Sheena. I come from a line of crofters- the ones who stayed after the Clearances. What sadness there must have been when the families split. Nicely done.
There is a patriarch behind every clan. Wonderful poem.
Few now, to pass the salt, to chide, to praise His saplings gone. The sky a red pyre, bleeding What is a patriarch without a clan? A poem that makes us thinking.
Nicely crafted poem mam. I loved it. I invite you to read and comment on my poem dear frog.
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem
Congratulations for poem of the day. A very good poem Sheena. Well done Col Muhammad Khalid khan