The silence of my father

A father is a man who expects his son to be as good a man as he meant to be. Frank A. Clark

This waiting takes too long

it echoes in the voices

through the chamber

 

how does silence sound

white as a sheet

covered, weighted

 

as a cloud on the water

that sinks, decomposing itself

in wood or roots heavier

than the splatter

 

in the sound of the clang

discharging in the daily course

of matters

 

it’s the silence

of my father.

 

© Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere

Reviews

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed the poem. We try to follow our father and do a proper job with living. I like how you gave strength and life to the words.
"it’s the silence
of my father."
Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, John for passing by and reviewing my poem. Glad you liked it. :) Rudi

[Coyote Poetry]

I did and you are welcome.

[Vishuddha]

????????????????????? 25 characters

[Vishuddha]

Sorry, still can't get out ....

[Vishuddha]

Glitch, glitch, glitch - can't get out of this review. Don't know why. Been here two weeks. Incidentally, hi Rudi - how's it going?

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Verry good, thank you for asking. Have a nice day. :) Rudi

[Frank]

This is excellent again Rudi, you have a remarkable grasp of the English language, I don' think I could have written this as well.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you so much. I must admit I've got some help of one of the best English spelling checkers. :) Rudi

[Olumegbon]

This poem makes me remember my father and how much I miss him... Thanks for sharing. Lovely poem

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Olumegbon, fathers always are an example and we strive to be equal, but I guess as being a father we wish our children be more than ourselves. :) Rudi

[anne]

I want to be like my father...he is my only inspiration..your writing make me feel so good...:))

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Anne, appreciate your words. :) Rudi

[MsJewel]

I lost my father two years ago...I miss him every single day...your poem has left me teary eyed. You have touched my heart my friend.

:) Julie

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

I'm sorry for you loss. Indeed, he leaves an empty spot, but he will always be in my thoughts and in my heart. Thank you for your kind words. :) Rudi

[Vishuddha]

A mother accepts you no matter what. A father wants more, pushes, tries to improve the world. Makes you think even without saying a word. (Is your father dead? I get this from your words although they are not specific. Is the white sheet a winding sheet? Is the cloud a ghost, a memory? Is the body decomposing? Is this the silence?) Suggestive.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

Thank you, Valeria for reading my poem. My father has died in 2006 after a struggle of six weeks against a very aggressive cancer. I've seen him changing every day till he was just a plant. He was a very fine man, a musician, very fine feelings, trumpet and tuba playing, always singing. Silence, a lack of sound, white paper with no words and still so heavy with meaning. Hope you catch the undertow now of the poem. :) Rudi

[Vishuddha]

Yes, I see. I am sorry for your loss. Six weeks is very fast. Not much time to say goodbye and all the other things you might want to say. You will miss him forever, his music, his songs. My sister died in 2006. My mother died in 2008. My father died in 1958. It is good to remember them - better than forgetting.

[Rudi J.P. Lejaeghere]

That's certainly right and I'll never forget him. Thank you for your words. :) Rudi