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Open Poetry #21
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Goodknight
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since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA

0 posted 2002-08-09 07:45 PM


This is a poem written as a tribute to a wonderful story told by John Wagner Jr - a clergy person willing to tell us all the reality of his experience.


So you think it doesn’t matter
Little girl
Ever so loved
Bed stories every night
Daddy was there
She just loved the stories
Daddy loved to tell them
Stars and moon on the ceiling
Liked to touch them everyday
Daddy was tired
Had a tough day
Determined to read
Went up the stairs
Made it through the story that day
Big smile from the daughter he loved
One more thing daddy dear
Lift me to touch the stars
Oh my little love
Daddy is so tired tonight
I will lift you another day
The smile turned to sad
The little girl frowned
If I were a little boy
I would get my needed lift
I could touch the stars
Daddy cried real tears
Lifted his daughter dear
Now he no longer says
It doesn’t matter what I say
The absence of female gender
In my god and speech
Has left my daughter in the lurch
I must make sure
I take this to the church!!!


© Copyright 2002 Paul Tofte - All Rights Reserved
Mistletoe Angel
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Portland, Oregon
1 posted 2002-08-09 07:48 PM




(big hugggssssssss) God Bless You, sweet friend, this made me cry, it is sooooo touching, I do believe those kind of words always matter for it will always help our children as they grow as their love only grows richer and brighter! (sigh) This is beautifully touching and sensitive, sweet friend, we all love you so much! You have such a beautiufl heart, sweet Paul, thank you for sharing!



May love and light always shine upon you!

Love,
Noah Eaton

"Underneath your clothes there's an endless story..."

Shakira

Enchantress
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since 2001-08-14
Posts 35113
Canada eh.
2 posted 2002-08-09 07:50 PM


Paul, such a wonderful write..
leaving me speechless.
I am so glad you came to Passions.
This leaves a lot for us to ponder my friend.
~Hugs~

~Somewhere in my heart I'm always
dancing with you in the summer rain~

Martie
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since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049
California
3 posted 2002-08-09 07:56 PM


Paul

What a wonderful story of love and of realization and discovery.  Thank you for posting this and reminding everyone that there are so many different kinds of prejudice.

Goodknight
Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
4 posted 2002-08-09 07:59 PM


Noah - I cried when I read this story from John's Christmas letter - I have told it often and it stikes me every time - it is a powerful story - thanks for your loving words - Paul
Nancy - it is something to ponder isn't it?  John's honesty has so much to tell us - thanks for your kind and thoughtful words - Paul
Martie - sometimes the prejudice we have is so insidious that we don't even know it is there - thanks for the read and your very insightful comments - Paul

Madame Chipmunk
Member Rara Avis
since 2001-12-05
Posts 8296
Michigan
5 posted 2002-08-09 08:01 PM


A very thoughtful write, Paul...
I honestly think that God must be a woman.
Thats why she made women stronger than men...
(sorry, its really what I believe)
but sometimes I think God is a man, and those are the times when he takes the world and plays war games with it...
So, I think God is really both male and female...depending on what He/She is doing at the moment.
~ confused hugs from annoying little rodent
I really enjoyed your poem...please don't get mad at me.

Lyra

copyright2002 Lyra Nesius

"poetry is life distilled"  Gwendolyn Brooks

Goodknight
Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
6 posted 2002-08-09 08:05 PM


Oh Lyra - I would never get mad at you - god comes in many wrappers I think and I think we would be better off if we gave the female side of god equal time - thanks for reading and replying - confused knight replies to the confuse rodent - Paul
passing shadows
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since 1999-08-26
Posts 45577
displaced
7 posted 2002-08-10 02:46 AM


I've often thought my father wanted me to be a boy...he had two and loved them dearly...and I was last at home Mom died when I was ten, so I can relate to this story well. Believe it or not, I had the glow-in-the-dark stars on my ceiling. (I had bunk beds though, so I didn't need help to touch them) Very touching for me. Thanks for sharing Paul.
Magnus
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South Carolina, USA
8 posted 2002-08-10 09:06 AM


Paul....I will never forget the shine in
the eyes of my children as I tell them a
story when they go to bed....I can only
hope that I can forget those days that I
too am tired...and tell another story
anyway....For those gleaming eyes are worth
more than any gift I could ever be given.

Thank You for sharing this with me....

Sunshine
Administrator
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since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart
9 posted 2002-08-10 10:10 AM



Sometimes that littlest "if"
from a child
really opens our eyes...

Marge Tindal
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Florida's Foreverly Shores
10 posted 2002-08-10 10:38 AM


Paul~
Very touching ... when my daughter and three sons were small .... there was not a night that we didn't share a bedtime story together~

They may have enjoyed them ...
but this mommy enjoyed them even more~
Tender are the memories our times together have written on my heart~

Lovely to share this day~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

~*The pen of the poet never runs out of ink, as long as we breathe.*~
           noles1@totcon.com                       

Goodknight
Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
11 posted 2002-08-10 10:48 AM


passing shadows - thanks for reading and replying with such a poignant story of your own - Paul
Barry - thanks for your kind words and story - Paul
Sunshine - thanks for reading and for your kind reply - Paul
Marge - thanks for your thoughts and kind words - Paul

catalinamoon
Deputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543
The Shores of Alone
12 posted 2002-08-10 12:52 PM


Paul, this is so special.
Sandra

Suetang
Member Ascendant
since 2001-03-07
Posts 5187
Melbourne, Australia
13 posted 2002-08-10 06:29 PM


Such beautiful and touching words from the kindest of hearts.  

Take care....Sue

I am in motion
I am blue
Love is an ocean
I'm anchored in you
- Shawn Mullins

Goodknight
Member Elite
since 2002-06-15
Posts 2386
Ohio, USA
14 posted 2002-08-10 07:03 PM


Sandra - thanks for reading and for your kind words - Paul
Sue - thanks for your nice reply and for reading this - Paul

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