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Open Poetry #15
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

0 posted 2001-08-18 08:07 AM


Who do you see?

having cowboyed up,
farmed and ranched,
moved from waving
gold to gold-lined
streets, delivering
milk before hammering
nails, laying roofs
over laid carpet
providing others
comforts of home,
raised up four walls
of a little church
then took his bride
through the doors,

jack of all trades
tracing boundaries by
masonry, keeping nights
light with a twist
of wire,
piping water to the
homes that
contained friends

he held tightly
to a sixth grade
education, established
a community’s business
with his wife....
a life
culminating
as a janitor to
make ends meet,
at a  
local high school

my high school

Perception: dismay

"That's your Dad?"  
Yes,
no prideful sound
coming through,  
acknowledging  
this man picked up
papers, cleaned
blackboards,
straightened desks,
swept up litter,
just "yes", until....

perception: placate

once, having to
find him before
going home,
what I found was....
"just" a janitor,
chatting with
a young man
having wandered into a
classroom that
dad was cleaning,
looking for an instructor

Perception: amaze

in passing moments,
worries of a slender
young man
were unburdened
to my wiry dad, who,
his sixth grade
education intact, lived
more life than
most professors,
having done
"the real thing",
there he stood,
listening to a young man
who questioned youth,
questioned coming
manhood,
ready to enter into
his own life....

"That your dad?"  YES!

Perceptions.  

What is perceived,
how it’s passed back out,
will always lead
back to one,
coloring
what passes
through one's soul....

Perceive well.


© Copyright 2001 Karilea Rilling Jungel - All Rights Reserved
Local Rebel
Member Ascendant
since 1999-12-21
Posts 5767
Southern Abstentia
1 posted 2001-08-18 08:13 AM


I perceive your dad was a fine man... and a finely written tribute here Sunny...
RSWells
Member Elite
since 2001-06-17
Posts 2533

2 posted 2001-08-18 08:16 AM


Plenty to be proud of here. In the end it's what we've done not how we got there. Life's lessons are taught in the open air, the stifling city streets. Degrees earned by our grasp of what really matters and the respect of others who've in turn learned from our examples. Too often these acknowledgements come posthumously, I pray that's not the case here. Enjoyed.
ethome
Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada
3 posted 2001-08-18 08:50 AM


Oh so true Karilea! Education is so very important but it comes in so many forms and it always depends on what the individual does with his/hers form of education. I learned a long time ago that I should never underestimate others and I have tried to find time for all that cross my path. Most have something special to offer. Treasures that they share from within.
This is excellent writing!   I really enjoyed the read!

Kit McCallum
Administrator
Member Laureate
since 2000-04-30
Posts 14774
Ontario, Canada
4 posted 2001-08-18 08:57 AM


Applause!  Oh I enjoyed this so very much Karilea!  

Beautifully written ... you've captured the mood, and the heart of the moments you described perfectly.  I remember similar stories of my mother, who's dad was a janitor at her school when she was a child .... and my goodness, what a wonderful and fascinatingly gifted man he was. This brought back such memories ... thank you my friend. Excellent writing!  

Best wishes,
/Kit

Sven
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Laureate
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937
East Lansing, MI USA
5 posted 2001-08-18 05:26 PM


I see a man who no doubt was proud of his daughter. . . and still is to this day. . .

wonderful my friend. . . just goes to show you that there's always more than meets the eye. . .

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

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

Marge Tindal
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384
Florida's Foreverly Shores
6 posted 2001-08-18 06:06 PM


Karilea~

Grandma said -
'When you put on your uniform of the day -
be sure to polish your own badge of pride.'


Very nicely done, poetess~
I admire your hall of recall~
*Hugs*
~*Marge*~

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

shadow974
Senior Member
since 2001-06-21
Posts 636
Michigan
7 posted 2001-08-18 07:43 PM


Wisdom is knowlege put in motion. Many learn much and do little. I preceve your dad to be a wise man. Loved the read, it brought back memories.

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

[This message has been edited by shadow974 (edited 08-18-2001).]

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

8 posted 2001-08-20 08:42 AM


( smiling) This is very nicely done.... nice how you tell rather than just list what your father did for a living, letting us get to know him a bit better...

I enjoyed.... and it is a fine tribute to a father who cared..and made a success out of himself...


Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA
9 posted 2001-08-20 08:47 AM


Our 'custodians' - are the heartbeat of our schools - They're wonderful people who do very crucial work... It sounds like your dad was exemplary...
Mark Bohannan
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-06-21
Posts 7269
In the winds of Cherokee song
10 posted 2001-08-20 07:20 PM


Any man willing to do a days work no matter what it is ... is truely a man to be admired and as I see it, NO custodial job is a job to be sneered at.  Wonderful write of recall and reflection and I love the way you added the perspective to this piece.  Sounds like a Dad of Dads to me.  Oh, and you know I love the "cowboy up" in the beginning.  
Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648

11 posted 2001-08-20 09:03 PM


Your wise words have touched me deeply, Karilea. Very well expressed.
Daniel J D
Senior Member
since 2000-10-01
Posts 1471
Hillcrest, Queensland, Australia
12 posted 2001-08-21 12:17 PM


Great write as usual. You must be so proud of him.

Respond to my call and let the waves of my heart fill your life with the wonders of love
(Daniel J D)

CocoBaci
Member Elite
since 2000-05-06
Posts 3043

13 posted 2001-08-21 01:20 AM


I enjoyed this read very much SweetPoetFriendSunshine
Hugs2Ualways
*~coco~*

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