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

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Chris… memories when we were Ten Years Old. My Dad loved Shakespeare and said to me when I was Ten.. “If you memorize Hamlet” to be or not to be .. in its entirety”… I will give you Fifty Dollars (which would be much more today with inflation) well a week later I had memorized every word.. My Dad was delighted .. and here I am still struggling with Shakespeare. Love ❤️ your Poem about your Dad… very sweet and charming. tenderly, Pat

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Pat, thank you for sharing your Dad with me. Also special thanks for reading this poem today. Soon to be the 31st anniversary of his parting. Seems like yesterday and yet........

You are so appreciated.

Chris

[butterfly]

Another beautiful poem Chris! I often wonder about my father sadly I lost him when I was young too..I enjoyed reading about this poetic father daughter moment.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you butterfly. Sorry you lost your father so young. Mine has been a great influence on me as has my mother. I have been very fortunate with my parents, their love and guidance. Sadly that isn't the case for many.

Chris

[The Lone Grey Wolf]

When suffering is at an end, the burden is not with the dead, so much as the living; having to carry the weight of that memory.

[Chris Shaw]

So true. Learning to live without someone who has been so much part of your life is a heavy weight to shoulder. The grief softens with time, the memories are all that remains. I really appreciate your thoughtful comment.

Chris

[Meenakshi Dutta]

I would it's one of the best way of expressing warmth towards someone (dad) who meant everything to you, through your words. Chris!
We writers, are artists, what we can't utter through our lips, our words do it for us!
I feel so connected with my father after reading this work of yours.
Always stay blessed and keep writing Chris.

Best,
S

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Saga. Your thoughts here are so encouraging to me. Pleased I helped you to feel connected to your own Dad. All the best.

Chris

[Meenakshi Dutta]

Welcome, ☺

[Cherrie Palmer]

I too lost my dad at a young age, and my understanding of him and who he was made me, and now I am older than he was when I lost him, and would give anything to speak with him adult to adult. I loved this very moving.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Cherrie for your lovely review. Understand exactly how you feel. Really appreciate you giving this poem an airing because it is dear to my heart.

Chris

[Harmony Lee]

How hauntingly beautiful, from the technical balance of the rhyming patterns to the permeating emotional sentiments. Last June my father unexpectedly passed away; he was 56 and I was 25. I expect that most anyone who has loved and/or lost a parent figure can perhaps relate to this at least in some small way, if not quite profoundly. What would he say, indeed, and what would I say to him now? Simultaneously I am abundant with potential words and yet seemingly at a loss to sufficiently express them. Thank you for writing and sharing. I look forward to reading more from you.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you. I have written quite a few poems about my relationship with my Dad, this is probably my favourite. He died at aged 60, thirty years ago now. There is nothing more I''d like to do than have a cuppa with my Dad. I wonder what he would make of me now? I am sorry for the loss of your Father, so recently.

Chris

[Harmony Lee]

Thank you. Likewise I am sorry for your loss even and especially with the gaps of time. I know not your spiritual beliefs; maybe it will bring you some comfort to envision that you may reunite with him eventually, maybe not, although certainly your wonders are valid and relatable. I wish you well.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for your kind words.

[Stella Armour]

Oh my goodness, my dad loved his cuppa char as he called it and i am older now than he was when he passed.
How memories seem to get stronger of much missed fathes as we get older.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Stella. Just coming up to the 30th anniversary of his passing. Where do the years go?
read moreThank you Stella. Just coming up to the 30th anniversary of his passing. Where do the years go?

Chris

[Stella Armour]

nearly 50 years for mine, i wish i had taken the time to know him better , but i had a young family then of my own and never realized how precious he was.

[barleygirl]

Lots of poets write about visiting with someone on the other side, but this is the most interesting, original & colorful rendition I've ever read. I forget this is your father becuz it could apply to anyone. You pick out a few specifics from your childhood, but not painting the picture to be YOUR picture so much and so the reader can read whatever he/she wants to into this. I am reminded of all the times thru-out my life when I've compared myself to one of my parents at the same age. I love the way you bring up age comparisons in this poem (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Margie for that glowing review. Much appreciated. All good wishes from across the pond.

Chris

[Neville]

.......................... Your first post & two years on .. it is still as good as ever .. now tho' upon the occasion of this my third formal visit .. in my head I ask the same questions .. and it becomes a very personal mother son encounter and subsequent discussion ... and for that, I thank you dearly.

Neville

[Chris Shaw]

You know Neville if these lines made you think of your mum and brought her closer to have a conversation in your head, then I am delighted. Your third visit, that makes me doubly delighted. Thank you so much. Thirty years gone on 21st January.

Chris

[Broken.]

Oh I love this! Its flows so perfectly! Tell me how you did that (:
Although, I know very touching and sad as well. I had a very special relationship with my Dad as well. I often talk to him, wherever he is, and try to think of what he would say, and the conversations we would have if he was still here. Thank you for much for sharing. cheers

[Chris Shaw]

Now this is my favourite poem about my Dad. We would often share a cup of tea and have a chat. Even thirty years later, I really miss that. Thank you dear Broken I am sorry for your loss, but I too still converse with my Dad in my thoughts. Your Dad is not that far away. Thank you for dropping by.

Chris