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Open Poetry #15
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Cpat Hair
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Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793


0 posted 2001-08-03 03:37 PM


My dad was a drunk,
A preacher by choice
He spoke the word of God
And then when life kicked
Him in the gut,
Found solace in a bottle.

He wasn’t a bad man.
He cared about others,
Spent time with the sick,
Counseled the troubled,
Liked by most everyone,
Except my Mom’s parents.

He laughed a lot with his mouth
But seldom with his eyes,
Afraid of the things inside
He would numb the fear
With prayer and alcohol
When it grew too large


He and I didn’t get on well.

He tried to believe in god,

I tried to believe in me.


© Copyright 2001 Cpat Hair - All Rights Reserved
Lady In White
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since 2001-02-12
Posts 2799
USA
1 posted 2001-08-03 03:44 PM



"I tried to believe in me"....

the challenges we are given....are many....

Interloper
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-06
Posts 8369
Deep in the heart
2 posted 2001-08-03 03:51 PM


Well, Ron, you can believe in God 'cuz he believes in you.
Zinsser
Senior Member
since 2001-02-27
Posts 1641
Calif.
3 posted 2001-08-03 04:21 PM


Much needed write

Job well done!

           Thank You
         ~~~Connie~~~

MARK V SHELDON
Member Elite
since 2001-06-21
Posts 3015
In a corporeal internship...
4 posted 2001-08-04 07:52 PM


The last two lines, in their own way, say more than the rest of the poem (and I like the poem).  Sad how life turns, sometimes, but we all grow from it, hopefully into something better...

-MVS

"When you tell the Truth, you never have to remember what you just said."
--Del Casher

walker
Member Elite
since 2001-02-11
Posts 2240
Florida
5 posted 2001-08-04 07:56 PM


Very nice poem, sometimes we don't have answers but life makes us wiser to understand some things from our past.
Sven
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since 1999-11-23
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East Lansing, MI USA
6 posted 2001-08-04 07:56 PM


well done. . . just a little sad though. . .

-----------------------------------------------------------

To the world, you may only be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

Honeybee
Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-26
Posts 5372
Ontario, CANADA
7 posted 2001-08-04 07:57 PM



Ron~

This moved me deeply, I'm at a loss for words to tell you how much I see my father in yours.  Those last few lines hit so hard!

I'm truly sorry for your difficult times, but, hopefully in writing this poem it has given you some insight and peace  

Melissa~

VAS
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-11-16
Posts 7450
Oregon
8 posted 2001-08-04 08:17 PM


I often wondered where a preacher went when the living of life and lives became too much to bear. I know he's supposed to go to the same place as his flock, to his God. But the shepherd's flock gets to go to the preacher and together they go to God, where 2 or more are gathered in His name, He shall be among them.

I've often wondered if preachers and pastors are open enough to become vulnerable and seek the elders for comaraderie and added strength in prayer.  

There is so much love in your words for your dad, even though you didn't get on well, one can still tell he touched your life a great deal.

serenity blaze
Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738

9 posted 2001-08-04 08:22 PM


Wow...this is like one of those wines you taste, that's smooth, but with a slightly acrid aftertaste...as always a thoughtful read--and not all of memory is gold...and we do well to remember that too. Anything to heal.

I'll shaddup now...but know that I loved this one.

Bill Charles
Member Patricius
since 2000-07-11
Posts 10619
highways, & byways, for now
10 posted 2001-08-05 09:55 AM


Cpat Hair - I know from where you write this. Mine was not a preacher man, but it was very similiar. Thanks for sharing, and I'm glad that I stopped to read it, for memories it did return...

BC

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
11 posted 2001-08-05 05:10 PM


Cpat--You wrote this with the tender honesty of understanding.  Well done!
catalinamoon
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Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
12 posted 2001-08-05 06:03 PM


Oh boy, this one tugs at my heart. My Dad died this year, we were pretty much estranged, and I was surprised how much it still hurt.
Sigh.
Well done.
Sandra

shadow974
Senior Member
since 2001-06-21
Posts 636
Michigan
13 posted 2001-08-05 09:05 PM


Powerful poem, CaptHair, It touched me in ways I thought I had forgotten long ago, but of coarse I wouldn't want to forget because history has a way or repeating it self if I should ever forget.

Enjoyed

Throw your heart out in front of you
And run out to catch it.

Samia
Junior Member
since 2001-07-28
Posts 47
Earth of corse!
14 posted 2001-08-05 09:31 PM


Good writing. Your poem hits home. Thanks for sharing.
-Samia  


cpalmer
Senior Member
since 2001-06-26
Posts 977
Phoenix, Az
15 posted 2001-08-06 11:53 AM


Cpat,
This hits home for me too in some areas...Believe in yourself and believe in God...it's the way to go! Hugs
Cindi

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