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Open Poetry #15
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1slick_lady
Member Ascendant
since 2000-12-22
Posts 6088
standing on a shadow's lace

0 posted 2001-08-14 12:22 PM



Your Cement Garden

mirrored before me stands a woman hair of red
color from childhood caused much pain and dread
and in his legal way and cold heart
my father said, “Girl, thank God your smart.”
and in the short time words take
he dropped a child’s crystal heart to floor in break
with my mother dead, the job and me were too much task
so questions of childhood were left unasked
it has taken me many years
to wash away my fathers words in tears
twenty years he has been dead now
and I wish he could see me somehow
for his ugly duckling has become a swan
and a glued heart has gone far beyond
I hated him then but not anymore
adulthood taught me to forgive and understand him more

yet, it’s sad to me, we’ll never know the sweetness meant
as I visit you in your garden of cement



pictures from family cemetery in Mississippi


"...the rest is silence" (Hamlet)  Shakespeare

© Copyright 2001 Helen Chambers - All Rights Reserved
g-hm
Member
since 2001-05-16
Posts 85

1 posted 2001-08-14 08:41 AM


This one touches a nerve with me today also.
You know it?

Cpat Hair
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Patricius
since 2001-06-05
Posts 11793

2 posted 2001-08-14 08:46 AM


sometimes it takes a while before we can get past the pain and the anger...

Nicely written...and touching

catalinamoon
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
3 posted 2001-08-14 08:19 PM


Oh, so sad, I have a similar feeling, my Dad passed away this year and lots of unresolved things. Too sad when it goes like that. You did an awesome job with this subject
Sandra

shadow of the fall
Member
since 2001-08-13
Posts 83
Indiana
4 posted 2001-08-14 10:14 PM


this is unbelievably touching. Thank you for sharing.
1slippery_lady
Junior Member
since 2001-07-20
Posts 20
Ohio, USA
5 posted 2001-08-14 10:26 PM


Slickster, you'll never know how much this hits home.  Nicely written, as always.

[This message has been edited by 1slippery_lady (edited 08-14-2001).]

Irish Rose
Member Patricius
since 2000-04-06
Posts 10263

6 posted 2001-08-14 11:20 PM


before I collapse into sleep I had to respond to this one.  I was that red-haired little girl and I hated my father also.
I've learned not to and to forgive and even though he is gone I wonder if I truly did.
thank you for sharing part of my soul.

" I walked beside the evening sea And dreamed a dream that could not be" George William Curtis"

Kay

RSWells
Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

7 posted 2001-08-14 11:47 PM


My father lacked in the most important task of parenting and has too been dead twenty years. As trite as it sounds I know how you feel and wish the sob was here to at least see his beautiful grandchildren. I hope this took you a step closer to closure.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to decieve"

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