Stones

Before my Father died,

he combed beaches for stones.

Picked for surface smoothness,

colour or shape.

I picture him in my mind's eye

at Anstey's Cove,

pockets half-filled with finds.

Why he decided to apply

clear varnish, allow time to dry,

glue a few chosen ones together,

graded by size, escapes me.

I haven't a clue.

Perhaps he knew his days were numbered

and already encumbered with

that disease which killed him,

on a whim he instructed his creative side

to shout out.

Years have passed, 

I sigh as I look at

unstuck remains.

In my hands I hold

the relics of my Father's

last days.

I 

Author's Note

Critique welcome please.

Reviews

[Neville]

these words have once again touched upon that nerve that refuses to die and would I want it to .. no of course not .. since its correct full name is treasured memory .. and now my mucky face is stained because of my involuntarily leaking eyes ... stones eh' who would credit that :) x

[Chris Shaw]

Aw, you know mucky faces are quite endearing. Thank you Neville for choosing this one.

Chris

[Richard M]

Hi Chris, I really like this poem; written so beautiful and I love (my favourite thing), that it tells a story. A treasured memory for you. Thank you for sharing a piece of that memory.
Take Care.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Richard thank you for that lovely review. So pleased you paid me a visit. All the best.

Chris

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

That is very moving. What a fond memory you have of your father. That rock is more valuable tham diamonds or gold.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dale. You are right. Really appreciate your thoughts and your visit. Enjoy the weekend.read moreThank you Dale. You are right. Really appreciate your thoughts and your visit. Enjoy the weekend.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

your poem and tribute to your Da moves my heart .. so well done .. love the honesty and simplicity of statement .. a setting scene characters and action .. you and your Da .. stones for eons have held meaning in many civilizations. I have been reading the Bible in Joshua about how the Israelites won the land promised to them and Joshua instructed his people to raise up 12 pillars of stone for the 12 tribes of Israel .. and i am reminded of the cairns of Ireland .. meant to be sacred and holy .. your Da's rocks .. chosen with such care and then nurtured into living memories by him ... there is a permanence in rock isn't there?! :) i am sorry you have lost him Chris .. sweet memories such as the one you have shared do take over the grief .. and sometimes regret .. reading has got me thinking and remembering .. thanks so much!
E.

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Mr E, thank you for your lovely and informative response about stones and their history in bible passages. My Dad was a scientist, he didn:t have much creativity in him so it puzzled me for quite a sometime when he did this. I do believe he knew he was dying before the rest of us found out. Yes, permanence, that is what the stones represent. He is permanently with me as are his varnished stones which I hold in my hands frequently when I think of him. I'm so pleased you like this tribute. The grief has softened, the loss hasn't. I still miss him thirty years down the line. Have a peaceful day. Warm wishes across the waves.

Chris

[Einstein Noodle]

i do feel you ... top o' the mahrnin darlin'!!

[Chris Shaw]

And to you too :))

[Meenakshi Dutta]

You've profoundly reminisced your father's memories. I can totally relate how, the memories stay in the deepest recesses of our brain. Nonetheless, loved "I sigh as I look at unstuck remains''.
Best,
S

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks Saga, I appreciate you reviewing this old poem out for an airing. My Dad, gone thirty years now. Never a day I don't think of him. All the best.

Chris

[Broken.]

My father also passed away by a disease. I understand completely how little things are remembered so deeply. I think this is a nice memory you have of him. Very special. I hope you kept all those stones (:

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Broken, thank you for reading this poem about my Dad. It is one of my own favourites. Yes I kept a few of those stones. Your visit most welcome.

Chris

[Jimmy Yetts]

Deeply touching.
There is great beauty, here; that unbreakable relationship with your beloved father
unmistakably emerges.
Such an exquisitely portrayed and profoundly moving declaration, Chris!
Heartrending.

[Chris Shaw]

Really appreciate you giving this one an airing Jimmy. Will soon be the 29th year anniversary of his death. Was lucky to have such a great Dad. Thank you.

Chris

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A sad and sobering reminder of your father and his passing. I have seen many of these 'stuck stones' even in gift shops. I guess done creatively they are art.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you John. Yes he collected them many years ago, long before you could find them in gift shops. That was my Dad's creative side coming out:)

Chris

[Sarah K Cass]

Oh how lovely. I don't know about the glueing them togethef, Chris, but varnishing probably because it brings out the amazing colours hidden underneath the dustiness. Ive done this myself. A lovely remembrance of your dad.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Amber. He selected stones of a certain size, glued them on top of each other and varnished them. They made very attractive ornaments. Thank you so much for responding to this one. Stones are very attractive when they are varnished.

Chris

[free will]

This is a lovely memory! My father has passed too. So memories and physical objects of a person. I suppose they remind us to give gratitude. :)

[Chris Shaw]

This is probably my favourite piece that I have written about my Dad. Departed now 28 years and far too soon. Thank you so much for choosing to read this poem over others. I really appreciate that. Sorry for your loss too.

Chris

[free will]

I understand the meaning of writing about something so close. So I related. Thank you Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

You are very welcome:)

[Maxwell Ryder]

Well, I don’t want to ask about his faith - it’s personal - but I had it in my mind of people who make cairns or lay the stones upon graves. Any association? Maybe random. But this is what came to my mind.

[Chris Shaw]

Catholic, but not practicing. No it was a random thing he just needed to do. I think it was his spirituality coming out later in life.