One More Thing Before I Go...

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Wed, 05 Feb 2014
  • 2007 reads
8 comments
 
So many things I wanted to ask you – like 
who all those people are in your wedding photo...
who’s the woman with the fruit bowl on her head...
and the kid, picking his nose – big style?
 
What were all the medals for...on your lapel,
and your sleeve? What colour were the flowers 
in Mum’s bouquet, and did you really only have 
forty-eight hours leave to tie the knot?
 
Ask if you knew how hard it was...each minute – day,
week – year, seeing you, slip further, and further away;
feeding you with a spoon – wiping your chin as you dribble? 
 
Watching you watching me, as if I was a stranger, each time
I come to visit; and when I leave, shaking my hand,
saying it’s been nice to meet me...what did I say my name was, 
 
and you hoped we meet again, sometime,  and I hope so, Dad...
I really, really hope so, with every bone in my body, and
with every mote of dust – falls, so silently behind these walls...
I pray to god we do.
 
Want to ask just how I’m supposed to cope...
closing my eyes, metaphorically speaking, helping you 
with your trousers when you need to take a leak...
 
Ask, how the hell you did it – become a father
to the woman you married, and how does your daughter 
become your mother, too? But, I don’t.
 
Certificate 12
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Love
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

There are so many, little things you wonder why you didn't ask. I remember my Mum saying so about her aunt, I think it was, but I put off asking her the little things I meant to too!

The last 2 stanzas, so poignant, so true, so many adaptations needed at different stages of aging.
Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Rhiannon, how very true - your words.  My thanks to you for your thoughts, and for your empathy.

Tina

 

Submitted by Bee on

Very moving poem, Tina - especially stanzas 4 & 5. - heartbreaking!

Bee

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

What more can I say, Bee, except how much I appreciate your words.  

Tina

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

This brought back so many memories of questions that I wanted to know from my own Dad.  One of the thoughts that did cross my mind when reading,  is how we go full cirlce from childhood to adults and then near that moment of saying goodbye,  we become dependant once more,  but this time to our own children...if you know what I mean.

A lot of food for thought in this poem Tina.

Many thanks for sharing.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Jenny - I know exactly what you mean.  You have explained it so very well.  

Pleased this poem inspired you, and thank you for your thoughtssmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by jeand on

Hi Tina

This is a lovely poem - showing such a good and happy relationship with your dad, and yet, you wishing that you'd been able to find out more about what he was like, things about his life, etc. I think all of us who have lost our parents will have similar regrets. At the time they are dying, you can only think of the horror of the situation taking place in front of you. I remember my dad had died temporarily from a collapsed lung, and then they resussitated him for a few more days. He wanted to tell me about his "out of body" experience, and I was so embarrassed and unsure of how to handle it, that I changed the subject. Don't I wish I could have those few minutes back again.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I know exactly how you feel, jean.  

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Tina