Believing the False

when something that has been yours forever is taken by ugly force

I once had a son,

That much is known;

But he slipped away with heart in hand

Fading like a castle

Made from sand.

 

Lesson learned, then debunked,

Feeling like I’ve gotten drunk

To believe in the impossible is now

Not plausible,

If even possible.

 

Mem’ries of talks and walks,

Mention how to walk the walk

A fable is just a dream gone cold

Feeling old, or

So I’m told.

 

Hard to follow, hard to swallow,

Breathing hard as in no tomorrow

The fable is all too quickly dried

No matter that we both have tried,

Fabled, but most of it implied.

 

dan © 2015

Music: "Cluster One," by Pink Floyd

Author's Note

Reviews

[Not here]

"mem'ries of talks and walk
mention how to walk the walk
a fable is just a dream gone cold
feeling old
or so im told"
incredible, just like the rest of the piece. awesome job here, i love it

[dan]

david, thank you for the kind words. take care...dan

[modtoddinc]

having this be something that is an ongoing experience in my own life... my father is still alive and in his 70's, and having never felt 'close' to him... we have rarely experienced what it means to be men together, me feeling that I have let him down... his feeling that he doesn't understand me... This poem strikes a deep chord of resistance and pain in my soul. Especially knowing that there is some time left, but neither of us know how to bridge the gap... alcoholism, dysfunction, loss of his own father... its all so real. The words are heartfelt my friend... the poem is so close to home that I cannot say any more.

~peace, Todd

[dan]

I hope that getting it off of your chest was a bit cathartic for you. My empathic heart can feel YOUR pain too. Thanks for reading my work. take care...dan

[modtoddinc]

Sorry, not a very good review... Too close to home.

[dan]

Hey, I'm just glad to be here to listen. Good luck dealing with your issue. take care...dan

[jacob erin-cilberto]

when that distance between hearts of a parent and a son grows so wide they cannot see each other...it is such a sad time indeed...

powerful write, dan.

j.

[dan]

jacob, Thanks so much for your kind words; a gulf that cannot be bridged inhabits a special kind of hell. take care...dan

[...]

Dan...There's nothing I can say. I wish the sand into concrete, I wish this was fiction...sigh. I wish for you peace and love and healing, my friend. I love the truth of you of which you write. I hope it cleanses you.

[dan]

lynn, With thanks to my friends here at WC I sometimes feel that I can get through anything. Thanks so much...dan

[....................]

The image of a son fading like the sand castle is heart-wrenching, as is the image left by the speaker trying desperately to figure out the plausible impossibilities... this made me think of Tom Paxton's "Lesson too Late for the Learning"... well-done, Dan...

[dan]

FT, Thank you for your kind and reassuring words. take care...dan

[AaronFreitas]

Just an awesome write... full of honest and powerful words. I must say the music also helped draw me in.... I had to turn off my Sons of Anarchy and give this write the full attention it deserved. Beautiful work my friend... sometimes our best work is when it is truest to ourself. :)

[dan]

Aaron, thank you for tearing yourself away from your show. I hope the read made it worth your while. Thanks for the read/review. take care...dan

[sereenaoutloud]

Dan, this tugged at my heart string and Pink Floyd(love them) perfect match !
To loose a child...pain i never wish to know my friend! I fear it would be the death of me too!
Tears in my eyes i say thank you for sharing this raw, beautiful write :(

[dan]

sereena, Thank you but this was not a death, though it did feel like one. My ex-wife told my son (then he told me) that I was not his biological father. After 30 years I find this out. There is a special place in Hell reserved for people like her. Thanks so much for the review, and yes this Floyd song sets the write in the exact mood that I wanted. take care...dan

[sereenaoutloud]

Oh that is horrific! TO have told him and then have him tell you only adds to the already life altering news!
I am so sorry :( This could not have ben an easy write!

[dan]

No, it wasn't easy, but I don't believe poetry is necessarily supposed to be. It WAS necessary for me to write this...I e-mailed it to my son when I finished it. thx...dan

[Chain of Hearts]

Very true, I like it. By the way- could you please check out and review my 4th chapter in my book, 'In Shatters'? (It used to be called ***Still considering the title***)

[dan]

Could you please send that to me in a read request? I should tell you that I have a MH disorder that impairs my focus and ability to concentrate, so often chapters and stories are sadly out of reach for me. But I'll give it a try. Thank you for reading this. take care...dan

[Chain of Hearts]

No problem, and I am pretty sure I shared it...I'll go check again