January Shadows

Father - Daughter

What would you make of me dear Dad,

if we could share a cup of tea

and watch the sail boats work the breeze

devoid of other company?

As I pour a stronger brew, look

into your long dead eyes, would you

linger there with me? Stay a while,

smile back and say, "I love you girl

no matter what." Or would you turn

to me and say "this time my dear

you've lost the plot".

I'm older now than you were then.

How strange it seems to me in dreams

we meet and both of us are old.

How warm you are when you break through.

How cold I feel, your absence felt.

Yet when you pierce that flimsy veil

the freeze soon thaws, the ice soon melts

and I again a child of ten,

recall with glee the laughter when

stories dipped in sugar water

never end in tears or slaughter.

Reviews

[Betty Hermelee]

mixed memories of your dad, sometime jovial, other times more direct....but then you speak of dream-like times when you were young and was able to have fun with your dad...your dreams are filled with times of older ages....and younger ones as well...fathers and daughters have special relationships.... a special bond. Many of us go through this special time with our dads. A nice keepsake of your dad.
Best, B

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Betty thank you for that lovely review. 32 years gone now. that is an awful long time.You are very much appreciated. 💐

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

You're very welcome dear friend!
Best, B

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Dear Chris! 🌿

What an all around excellently rendered, bitter-sweet Freestyle poem of you 'n your dearly departed dad, in smooth as silk diction, syntax, and spot-on intermittent rhymes.
Isn't it wonderful how memories keep our loved ones and sweet emotions alive and viable in such sentimental ways … at the same time, recollections of all those moments we've missed them so.

I still find such joy in reading your wonderfully imaginative poetry.
"A MOST HAPPY NEW YEAR WISHED FOR YOU 'N YOURS! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Richard. A belated happy new year to you. Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving such a thoughtful comment. Your visit is much appreciated. Hope all is good in your world.

Chris

[Richard🖌]

Chris,
It is ever a pleasurable honour to share your beautifully skille pencraft … and, you are most welcome for my humble review.

My world's amazingly charmed, as I wish for yours to be⁓

[Dylan Macadham]

At Christmas I gave my two grownup kids each a framed photo of their late grandparents in a beautiful camping-vacation setting. My Dad was exactly the same age as I am now. Yes, it's a strange-curious feeling, hard to put into words ... which you have done so beautifully, Chris :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dylan. That was a lovely gift you gave your children. Pleased you enjoyed this poem, your thoughts are much appreciated.

Chris

[Michael Sun Bear]

Good morning Chris. I read and reread your poems many times. I can’t give you better praise. This poem was bittersweet for me; my childhood much different, my relationship with both parents both while alive and now long passed, absolutely different. I never, ever write about my parents, maybe I should. You did arouse very dormant, very sweet memories of my grandmother. What is important is your writing creates feeling in the reader, no matter what type. Thank you for your contributions. MSB

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Michael Sun Bear for your kindness. So pleased you enjoy my poetry and for sharing your experience of your parents. We raised all three of our grandchildren so I would be interested to read anything you write about your own grandmother. The two things I pay particular interest in when writing are the imagery created and the emotion conveyed. So pleased you stopped by.

Chris

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

i teared up reading this! it has left me speechless, and im afraid i can only leave a short review. but it was fantastic. such beautiful lines, the rhymes were ever so sweet, and it explores so intimately the complicated thoughts running through you as you remember. life is a journey, but the mind is a maze with no begining nor end. this work not only pays a tribute to someone who was undoubtedly a great man, but the incongruency of the world outside and the world within. and i just realised, this comment became much longer than i first intended, forgive me.

thank you for sharing this. thank you so much.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ern for your valued thoughts on this old poem. Out for an airing as it will soon be 34 years since my Dad departed this plane. I very much appreciate your visit.

Chris

[JessyJacob]

I am sorry Chris, i deleted my post, so that you dont get hurt because of others. I need your recovery, and better health.
I posted this as chapter in my book.

It has been reached to for whom it was to concern as of now.

Thank you,
Jessy Jacob.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jessy, you are welcome to comment on my poems, but your writing concerning others is better posted as a chapter in your own book as you have suggested. My health is fine and I thank you for your concern. Take care of you 🌹

[JessyJacob]

I dont see any comments on if i posted in my book, but here i at least see the main person which i wanted to let know, i get feedback. I am thank full to your time, out of your ill-health you are totally immersed into feeling for others too. Thank you so much.

[Starr]

This is a sad write, I lost my dad many years ago. Nicely written and expressed though.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Starr. Many years have passed now, but each January is a reminder. Sorry for your loss.

Chris

[Starr]

it was a long time ago, I'm ok now, just memories off and on haunt me, but I'm fine. enjoyed your write.

[Chris Shaw]

Bless you :)

[Cassie]

So much sadness here. How are you Chris

[Chris Shaw]

A very old poem dear Cassie. Lovely to find you on my page. I hope all is good in your world. I am taking a bit of a break from WC as busy with other things. All good things for you dear poet. 🌺

[Poetic Beauty]

I am blessed for I still have both my parents.

Memories good and bad I’m sure surface without rhyme or reason.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for visiting this old poem. A favourite of mine PB. You are fortunate if you have both of your parents. Sadly my Dad died at 60. It was devastating for our family to lose him at that age. My mum was in her fifties. They lived by the sea, so I would often watch the sail boats with my Dad while we put the world to rights. I had great parents, so lucky.

[Poetic Beauty]

I am blessed with amazing parents. My parents are in their 60s so yes I’m fortunate to have them both.

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn..]

Chris,

this is a piece of most touching and heartrending Poetry that speaks words not said, nor expressed, but felt most poignantly by any and every wide awake to your words reader. Very profound and direct piece of very personal Poetry that I did not, necessarily, enjoy, but do think I did grasp to beat the ban ...

On a lighter note, I have a piece that is a fantasy beginning introduction to a true to life story that ends in fantasy as well, and that in honor of my long gone and dead Dad, Martin Thomas Cox, and the tale is titled, most appropriately, Shaking Off The Devil ... I do hope you will give it a read: https://www.writerscafe.org/writing/mtcflynndegraham/2879983/ ...

I always leave your pages touched by your heart set to pen of page, dear Lady ...

Marve

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Marve. I am thrilled that you picked this older poem to comment on. It is a personal favourite of mine. I’ll take a look at your posted poem soon. All the best.

Chris

[Marvin Thomas Cox-Flynn de Graham]

It is a short story, Chris, just to give you fair warning, but I do think that you will enjoy it.