in memory...one year...July the month of my father's passing
moving still
I become
when leaf
finds light and dark
of fruited remembrance
born from branch
grafted
of the family tree.
memories of July
last
I stood outside
while inside
you could
no longer
yet remains
the winded whisper
of your voice
in fullness
of summer heat.
seeded sweetness
of bitter skin
yet uncovered
while tears
of heavens hold
ripen years
of my father
his father passed
also handed down.
presence
of your giving
no longer surrounds me
yet pear-shaped multitudes
lie
memories bare
beneath leaf
to turn the heart
unknowingly
again three seasons
and left right
this combination
of flesh
will revolve
fallen fruition
every year
until all are missing
finally infinite
I will
remember you.
Good Morning To You John,
Through Your Poetic Expressions; My Empath of Sorrows Feel Your Loss As My Own. The Poem Is Beautifully Expressed With Feelings Of The Loss & Love
Much Love & Happiness To You
Embraced ~ Embrassé
Vickie
John - Loved the way the fig tree and the life of your father and grandfather are "grafted " together into one life - its passing and its "infinity." This poem was particularly relevant to me personally. I have a fig tree growing from a cutting from my mother's fig tree which has been passed down through cuttings from her great grandmother's fig tree.
- David
what the fig meant, the fruition, the pear shaped multitudes, all as the leaf slips from the tree to land gracefully upon the sweet soil, destined to feed the tree's sturdy roots, always a part of it, never truly apart. Well penned, John.
a fine memorial leaf from you poetic tree. I understand too well. I've been making these yearly remembrances since my Dad kicked off the passings in 2003. And your are so right: "fallen fruition
every year
until all are missing
finally infinite
I will
remember you."
I had a little trouble with the line just before this, but you sure ended this in a very telling light: and I wonder: "am I just comforting myself or am I truly facing the spiritual challenge death confronts us with....? (I don't know - my usual reaction!)
But then we are poets...
Later, michael
John, I know your sadness. Yet, we each cling to the memories and what our departed loved ones bestowed upon us. My heart goes out to you as you remember ...
The whole tone is hushed-- reverent, poignant and insistant. I love the pear-shaped images. What's most surprising about this, is the tiny paradoxes that make a round whole-- "seeded sweetness of bitter skin", "memories bare beneath leaf", "fallen fruition", and "finally infinite"...
The taste of a pear, and the sight of its leaves, comfort foods for one who's missing one...
This poem is so beautifully elloquent and hushed. --a masterpiece of art, words, and emotion.
An exceptional tribute John. It has so much meaning to me now as I'm just returning from mourning my sisters death. You are gifted with elequence and the ability to love.Thank you for sharing...ET
Exceptional! Your heart reaches out across the spanse of time and place , pays homage in sweet memory to one who was so dearly loved...My prayers are with you!........M
I love the allegory here. A great work John! Your dad will always live on through you.
Chanti
Reviewed by Gianetta Ellis (Reader)
Reviewed on July 11, 2008
I echo David Thompson's remarks and would relay that the first word that came to mind as I finished your poem was "Exquisite." Your heart and your character lie before us here glowing in the purest form of beauty.
What a wonderful bond you and your dad must have had.
You express it very emotionally
You're very fortunate
I can tell by the way you write your dad invested alot of time
with you.
Doug
isn't it funny how the simple things are the ones we hold most dear to our hearts? And how people like our Moms and Dads make a simple thing like eating figs etch in our memories forever and it is a special time and memory? great write!
One year ago I knew not your father's son. But then, one day some happenstance created the moment for our paths to cross. You read one of my poems or I yours, and I have enjoyed the splendor of your words since. I wonder if your father, before his passing, knew of his son's gift to please mankind simply by his intermingling of twenty-six letters of the alphabet. This homage to your father is a thing of beauty that cannot be surpassed and causes me to reflect upon my own father's passing more than eleven years ago. So, let us weep with you during this moment of remembrance, for it brings both joy and sadness to our own hearts to hear one speak with such eloquence.
This touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes as I remember my father who may be living his last days...I must go now, can't see anything I write....
Absolutely beautiful as your heart and soul is shown here. You will always miss him and his memories you will cherish forever John. Thank you for sharing.
John,,, I feel every word as I read this most beautiful poem...it represents a bond between a father and son... I know you are missing him so,,,May you find comfort in all the memories that never go away.
Blessings,
Christine
Very beatifully treasured words John. I really felt this ... your
heart was really into every word. You have much to give John. Nobody could have said it better than Chantilly Lace, you have become one of the greats John, and I am really proud of you. You are model writer... an example ... and you are a good one !!!
Know all too well the sting of death: just lost our daddy in May, still miss him so much! (See below.) Powerfully penned; so sorry for your loss! You are in my prayers, John!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <
Having just lost my Daddy, the feelings you express in powerful, yet so beautifully moving, lines of rememberance touch the deepest part of me - so sorry for your loss - does it (grieving) ever get easier?
A poem that bares your soul...a tender write with deep feeling. A friend of mine once said that parents shouldn't be allowed to die until their children are ready to let go... but then, maybe no parents would ever die...Thank you for sharing your poignant thoughts with us, John.
It wasn't until my third reading of your poem that I caught the meaning of some of your phrases... I am always stunned by how each of your words is so carefully chosen to elicit just the right amount of emotion, thought, meaning, and sometimes ambiguity or double meaning. I especially loved these lines...
"to turn the heart
unknowingly
again three seasons
and left right
this combination
of flesh
will revolve..."
The combination to the heart and memories of your father and his passing...
Superbly done!
Cryssa
Reviewed by Gerard Gauthier (Reader)
Reviewed on July 9, 2008
All this feeling...it expresses who you are and what your father meant to you...Great tribute John, great write
John, the love you express for your father is the strength of true love. Your father is indeed fortunate to have such a loving son. The passing of our father is such as traumatic event. I still mourn my father's passing in December last. Your poem is a fine tribute to your father. God bless. JMW
Dear sweet John, your words carry such weight and meaning with strong sentiments of love. You and your father are one and will always be as you carry his qualities with you everywhere you go....
Be always safe,
Karen
Reviewed by ~ Holly Harbridge (Reader)
Reviewed on July 9, 2008
You are apart of your Father, living & loving this day with a grateful heart in step with a spiritual heartbeat, remembering as he taught you to. Respectfully, your friend Holly
Reviewed by blue soplain (Reader)
Reviewed on July 9, 2008
rendered completely open... and poignant; a true turth in the telling of memories and loves. .. . a beautiful fruition of spirit.. .
ness
Beautifully presented memoir and tribute, John. So still and reverential, yet nourishing to the heart and soul. Sorrow's tears makes for tender flesh and you harvest richly with your fruitful words. Your father's seed lives in you and reproduces its own kind, like for like. My love to you at this time of anniversary... I know how the moments are relived almost as if happening all over again at the first revolution. You paint this canvas larger than life... what you feel is no mere fleeting figment, but is that which will endure... and ultimately prosper. A precious write, thank you. Kate xx
Such poignancy! How bittersweet the memories, aren't they? This settled within my heart and I so wanted to weep for you, with you.. for I lost my father in July also. I stood beneath his beloved orange trees that day and said goodbye there.. it was where he would have wanted such things. Beautiful sadness, this is... Always, Myrna
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on July 9, 2008
Very touching . . . Doubly so, because I cannot remember my own father in such terms . . . He was a good man . . . Too good in my opinion . . . But you'd have to read the book to figure out why . . . I am sorry for your pain here, buddy, but I envy how you remember your father . . .
This is my personal inspirational book of poetry. It contains many poems written for family, friends, and relevant life situations. Hopefully you will find some that will encourage and inpsire you in whatever arena you are found in your circle of l
A further collection of poems, many from years in the Middle East, but also the California San Francisco and Central Coast areas (Santa Cruz, Carmel, Big Sur, Berkeley, etc.).
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Beautiful touching poem
Ron
Through Your Poetic Expressions; My Empath of Sorrows Feel Your Loss As My Own. The Poem Is Beautifully Expressed With Feelings Of The Loss & Love
Much Love & Happiness To You
Embraced ~ Embrassé
Vickie
- David
Regis
every year
until all are missing
finally infinite
I will
remember you."
I had a little trouble with the line just before this, but you sure ended this in a very telling light: and I wonder: "am I just comforting myself or am I truly facing the spiritual challenge death confronts us with....? (I don't know - my usual reaction!)
But then we are poets...
Later, michael
God bless you. Kathy
you have written here John
peace be with you Both
William
Lovely and vivid title and composition.
Axilea
The taste of a pear, and the sight of its leaves, comfort foods for one who's missing one...
This poem is so beautifully elloquent and hushed. --a masterpiece of art, words, and emotion.
Chanti
You express it very emotionally
You're very fortunate
I can tell by the way you write your dad invested alot of time
with you.
Doug
Fathers live in memories and the words we write.
Beautifully said, John.
Love tINKA
One year ago I knew not your father's son. But then, one day some happenstance created the moment for our paths to cross. You read one of my poems or I yours, and I have enjoyed the splendor of your words since. I wonder if your father, before his passing, knew of his son's gift to please mankind simply by his intermingling of twenty-six letters of the alphabet. This homage to your father is a thing of beauty that cannot be surpassed and causes me to reflect upon my own father's passing more than eleven years ago. So, let us weep with you during this moment of remembrance, for it brings both joy and sadness to our own hearts to hear one speak with such eloquence.
David
Georg
Newfie Hugs, Rose
Blessings,
Christine
heart was really into every word. You have much to give John. Nobody could have said it better than Chantilly Lace, you have become one of the greats John, and I am really proud of you. You are model writer... an example ... and you are a good one !!!
Harold M. Nash
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <
Having just lost my Daddy, the feelings you express in powerful, yet so beautifully moving, lines of rememberance touch the deepest part of me - so sorry for your loss - does it (grieving) ever get easier?
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
It wasn't until my third reading of your poem that I caught the meaning of some of your phrases... I am always stunned by how each of your words is so carefully chosen to elicit just the right amount of emotion, thought, meaning, and sometimes ambiguity or double meaning. I especially loved these lines...
"to turn the heart
unknowingly
again three seasons
and left right
this combination
of flesh
will revolve..."
The combination to the heart and memories of your father and his passing...
Superbly done!
Cryssa
John
Be always safe,
Karen
ness