Poetry Friday–Father’s Day

Sleepy Moon, © 2019 Michelle Kogan digital image created in Procreate.

Happy Poetry Friday!

I’m reflecting on Father’s for Father’s Day and focusing on Father’s who are no longer with us.

DAD

In a wink the light of life is out,
But between that wink lay
a lifetime of memories…
Remembering my father and
the emotions that filled his life,
his unconditional love for
family and humanity
floats to the top and
swelled within his heart,
a love that grew deeper
as he grew older–

His eyes if deep with sorrow,
outwardly mirrored strength of character,
and pools of passionate hope.

His thoughts ever filled with
financial din, were always open
to those oppressed.

His mouth, which marveled to move loquaciously,
carried his loving voice, seeking an ever
constant connection to others.

His heart with which he felt so powerfully
the joy and pain of others, touched us all and spilled over
with a profound pulsing love towards all.  

© 2019 Michelle Kogan

I think I may have shared the poetry of Li-Young Lee before or even this poem, but here it is again… He has such a sensitive way with his thoughts and words. 

THE GIFT
By Li-Young Lee

To pull the metal splinter from my palm

my father recited a story in a low voice.

I watched his lovely face and not the blade.

Before the story ended, he’d removed

the iron sliver I thought I’d die from.

I can’t remember the tale,

but hear his voice still, a well

of dark water, a prayer.

And I recall his hands,

two measures of tenderness

he laid against my face,

the flames of discipline

he raised above my head.

Had you entered that afternoon

you would have thought you saw a man

planting something in a boy’s palm,

a silver tear, a tiny flame.

Read the rest of the poem here

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there and all those remembering their Dad’s too!

 

Be sure to buzz on over to Laura Shovan’s blog Laura Shovan, she is our Queen Bee Poetry host rounding-up all of us worker bees this week for the Poetry Friday Roundup! Thanks for hosting Laura!