The Ride..

I wrote this from my personal experience with my dad... he went to visit his newborn granddaughter a tall hearty handsome and proud man and came back shriveled and weak.. he is no more...

The Ride

I watched him,

His big lumbering gait,

Smiling wide, Long Eyes Crinkled

As he neared the gate.

His warm hand, patted my back

Pulling me closer with his arm,

I leaned against him, at peace

At once, a sense of calm.

Doling out his goodies, laughing heartily

To eager little hands, outstretched,

A generous Santa, Plump Jolly

Like Christmas arrived, way too early!

He asked us,” How are you doing?”

Then fell silent, as was his way

Watching, smiling

Simply being all day.

Come see my car, I cried

Come, let me take you for a drive

Oh no no no! Not yet, he replied

Practise, some more, do strive.

“I am off to see my new granddaughter

My precious bundle, of my darling son”

Teasing me, with his special laughter,

“I want to be alive till then”

Practise some more, dear one

Drive around some more until I return

I wish to see your sister and my son,

I promise to ride with you when I am done.

Dad, your hands have more wrinkles, I exclaimed

And your hair is getting sparse

I am growing older, my dear, he proclaimed

Surely, you must accept this phase!

He left, with a wave,

His dear wife, by his side,

Wiping away my tears,

I went back, inside.

Days, weeks months went by

Suddenly it was time for him to fly

The body rushing the heart

Forcing loved ones, to part

I waited, anxiously, at the gate

To see, my dear father’s face

His smile, his laughter his gait?

With a foreboding, nothing could erase.

As he came, shocked I stood

Not the same, not fair!

Not the Jolly Santa, I never could

This frail man, barely there!

Shaken, in a daze

Heart broken, pained

As I came face to face

To this, my dear dad, weakened.

Rode he did, in my car

Keeping his word, his promise

Had I imagined thus far

It would come to this

We did it often, this long bumpy drive

Harder on him, as days went by

Until the day, I drove back home

Alone, We no longer, only I. 

Reviews

[Solar]

A deeply moving and sensitive poem - your father is to be remembered for his spirit - the body is only a shell. After all.

[Madhusudha]

Thanks Solar. And what's the matter after all, as you aptly put.. thanks for the comments.

[Krizito]

You've got a great handle on words and structure, and that's way more than I can say for me. In your piece is embodied the love and feelings inspired by your father. And as long as he's immortalised in your thoughts, work and in your heart, I believe he will be a very content father...good work.