On the Death of my Father

My brain has turned to ash, and yes,

My mouth is dust,

And love is grief, and death is

But the loss of trust;

While life is paupered, futures turn,

Feed on the past,

And dwell on words you might have…

If I’d only asked!

 

No point to dwell again, but yet

I must, I will;

Was there some hint, a glimpse perhaps

You’d long distilled,

Was I so blind, insensible

And dead to grief

That death could snatch you carelessly,

Some petty thief.

 

Perspectives shift, horizons narrow,

Drift my sand,

Your loss has marked my end, that shallow

Sleight of man,

What now remains of you, I am

Though poor in creed,

For what you were was love, and this

I’ve lost indeed.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Bubo]

Was I so blind, insensible
And dead to grief
That death could snatch you carelessly,
Some petty thief.

I can so identify with this.............such a sorrowful and yet true write.
Too lose that unconditional love, is like losing apart of yourself........one we never really regain, maybe the
child in us?
Beautifully written..............thank you for sharing.

[Cristina Moldoveanu]

The beginning of the last stanza is a strong emotional perspective on loss of a loved one. What I see in this poem is that each stanza begins with powerful images/ideas, then the tension dwindles to gain power again like a stroke in the last line of each stanza. I have never seen such a structure, I really appreciate it.

[Angela Talbert]

Deep and intelligent and very sad. My Dad passed a couple years ago on feb 24th. I submitted a poem about him of the same title-check it out if you want. Very glad I read this.