Things My Father Told Me

(Sadly he died far too soon, but not before he taught us a thing or two)

In life we come across diamonds,

people who radiate energy.

Who can not fail to touch others

with their infectious positivity.

They can ignite a smile on a grey day.

How glad they are to be alive

for they will thrive and survive

regardless.

They remind us of wild flowers

appearing in unlikely places.

A tiny splash of colour seen

as they show off their faces,

push their green stems through the cracks

in old paving or where the cement

has worn thin and crumbled.

We are humbled by their company.

A lesson my Father thought wise.

It is better to give than take,

make each day pay in some small way.

Enrich the lives of others,

your sisters and brothers, a warm word,

a small deed of kindness, don't succumb

to mindless negativity.

Spread a layer of joy.

I recall with laughter when he said

with a pint in his hand and a grin,

"We're a long time dead.

It's ill advised to become a drain,

inflicting needless pain,

sapping the zest out of the rest,

moaning in the pouring rain

and bleeding from life's adversities."

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Aaaahh, your father was a poet too dear Chris! Your poem reminds me of my husband- he is a true diamond, always smiling, energetic, optimistic, inspiring, helpful- sees the glass half full. He “never knew a stranger”, as they say. I tell him I wish I was him instead of me. Your verses are lovely in language, cadence, rhyme, simile and metaphor. They reach out and lift our spirits. You my friend, are a diamond yourself.

[Chris Shaw]

We always called him Diamond Dad. How wonderful you still have your Dad and that he has such an optimistic character. If I have a tenth of my dad's characteristics, I would be more than happy. You are a bit of a gem yourself Annette. Thank you for your very welcome response.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Ha- it is my husband who is my diamond. My Dad is gone 10 years now and didn’t have an optimistic bone in his body I’m sorry to say. My Mother used to call him “Mr. Doom and Gloom”. Thank you do much for your kind words Chris!:))

[Chris Shaw]

oops, I did mean your husband Annette, slip of the fingers there. I am smiling at what your Mother used to call your Dad, Mr Doom and Gloom. :))

[Chris Shaw]

I've come back and read your thoughts again. You said my Dad was a poet too. I'd never really thought of him like that Annette. He certainly didn't write it, but he talked it, and I have only just realised that. It took you to point it out to me (( ))

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Yes, some people speak in poetry. I think your father was one of those people. My father was a man of few words- mostly swear words at that- ha!:))

[Chris Shaw]

Now you've got me laughing. Have a great day.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

And you as well Chris!

[barleygirl]

What makes your profile especially precious is the way you include all the different ways your dad could be, not just the most inspirational details (“with a pint in his hand”). This is a subtle way to show a realistic & balanced portrait. Since my family was wracked by abuse, I wish I’d had some interesting verbal lessons, such as you have shared here. The small good deeds you describe are the ones we can all improve on to make this a better world! (((HUGS))) fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Margie, I was lucky. I am sorry you didn't have that luck.

Chris

[Paul Bell]

Defo. Gives a laugh anytime.
Give something out. Get it back tenfold.
Daddy was a wise man.

[Stella Armour]

This brought tears to my eyes Chris, my father died when i was in my 20's, i never really got to know him because of my mother's dominance but he was always singing the old cockney songs and everyone loved him, like you i have an image of him pint in hand ( snooker cue in the other).
Would do anything for anyone much to mother's annoyance, looking back what a hard background he came from and yet he never mentioned it.. small things made him happy and i regret not knowing him better than i did ..

[Chris Shaw]

Your response brought a tear to my eye Stella, because I could really feel that longing from you, your wish for more of an opportunity to have gotten to know your Dad better. Whenever I think of my Dad he has a smile on his face, a pint in one hand and a cigarette in the other. That's what killed him, lung cancer sadly. That stopped my mother smoking, she never smoked again after that.

[Stella Armour]

my dad too, senior service and also St Bruno in his pipe, for years after he passed away i could often smell his pipe tobacco. Brain cancer in his case, very distressing.
When i finally traced my family tree i found out so much about him that i wasn't surprised he never told me about it.... hard times.

[Chris Shaw]

I kept one of my Dad's shirts to wear as a nightdress, and when I stayed with my mum I would wear his dressing gown. I could still smell him, it brought him closer and gave me comfort. Everyone smoked back then. No one knew the damage it would cause until it was too late.

[Stella Armour]

i can just remember when i was small and children were not allowed to visit in hospitals him being in hospital and i was allowed in for some reason, all the men had little ash trays on their bedside tables.

[Chris Shaw]

Can, you imagine that? I had no idea, ashtrays at the hospital bedside? Just shows how everyone back then was totally unaware of the damage that could be inflicted by smoking.

[Stella Armour]

Yes , it's strange the things you remember lol

[Ardra]

Like wild flowers, that example was one fine one .. your father was a very wise man...
and as their daughters --- they will always be our super hero...
the one who had answers to all problems...
i miss mine too... mine helped me to grow up to be independent.... i guess that's the best gift dad gave me....

[Chris Shaw]

We can learn a great deal from our fathers. Yes, mine died aged 60. Far too early, and I do miss him a great deal but I have a stack of memories that won't ever be erased. Thank you for your response Ardra

Chris

[emmajoy]

What a wise and beautiful man he must have been. He's left behind a trail of love and experience that has reflected deeply into your being and that in itself is special. Just as the content of your writing, its style and phrasing adds immense care, that matters when focussing on such a wonderful person. I think of my/our dear daddy as my first love. Guess quite a few can say that! Thank you, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Good morning Em. Only another Daddy's girl could possibly understand :))

[emmajoy]

I adored my daddy! Was the youngest, apparently, the cheekiest, I used to tell him, me looking up to his 6,00+ - that i'd only learn by asking questions cos he'd told me so!! Sorry... nostalgia setting in. Your post is truly special and beautiful. We're so luck, no, fortunate, to have had those kind men in our lives.. not everyone does. xx

[Chris Shaw]

We are Em and I am ever conscious of how lucky I was and that others when reading my poem could be feeling the opposite. There are always two sides of the story.

[emmajoy]

I recently wrote about my guilt at having been born into such a sweet yet normal family. Was only in my early teens i learned the opposite from friends who became diplomatically regular visitors.







wonderful netlty

[송지ፏ..]

Very nice. I wish I had dad that gave me advice about these sort of things. Although I learned to be kind to everyone and be mindful of them from my older brother.

[Chris Shaw]

Good that you have an older brother you are able to learn from. Thank you.

Chris

[00000000000000000000000..]

Wise word he so gave and you live up to that:)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you for that Jon. Pleased to see you here.

Chris

[0000000000000000000000000000]

Very welcome my friend

[LKBillips]

Beautiful memories. I lost my dad too soon and he was the sunshine and sassy anecdote that made you smirk. His brother just passed on Friday and he had the same exuberant personality. Thank you for sharing. Perfect timing and just want was needed to lift the spirits and remember the shine not the sadness. :)

[Chris Shaw]

So sorry about your losses. Hard losing your Dad especially before his time and now his brother . I know I felt cheated. If this has raised your spirits at a time of sadness, then I am so pleased. It is so good to remember as you say the shine. Thank you

Chris

[Nigel Newman]

Hi Chris. I can only agree, and nicely done in getting the message across. I'd actually take it a stage further and argue that ranting and being negative drains oneself as well. Being a fellow Brit you'll be aware of programmes like Room 101 and Boring Old ... where all that happens in the entire show is complaints and rants. Once in a while they give me a wry smile but generally I steer clear of them and try not to rant even when I feel something might be worth ranting about. So, well said, and well done for picking this up from your Dad, who must have role-modelled it even more than saying it.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Nigel for that lovely response. Put a smile on my face it did.

Chris