Father’s Day

Memories linger

Photo by Travis Essinger on Unsplash

Old age and memories linger in the fog.
Words of the past haunt, newborn’s cries
Etched in glassy recesses rush forward to 
Burst forth from wrinkled lips.
Rain and an October flood back.
Her beauty reached out to caress.
      here is a blanket and soup;
      it will warm the very cockles.
      is that what she said?
Another October the child awakens;
      draw the blinds Luce;
      the sun will hurt her eyes.
Wisdom for the aged,
Teach the children about life.
Year of the son, of pride and joy.
      catch the ball, son.
      see, this is how it’s done.
      run with it and breezes
      whistle in your ears.
Waning years, with child-like tears of regret
Cover old wounds, voices no longer strong;
Don’t you remember, you told me all about it
Again at dinner last night.

Author’s Note

My dad, near the end of his life, loved to tell stories about my brother and me as children. His voice would become joyful as he told his stories repeatedly. To him, those times were special and happy. He loved taking us on walks, loved going to the zoo and botanical gardens, loved teaching us to catch a ball, swim, ride a bike.

(I never learned to ride a bike, if you can believe that. I’m not sure why. My balance has always been fine. I can do other activities requiring balance, but biking eludes me. Gravity keeps pulling me down.)

His stories also included how he met my mother and their courtship, how he introduced her to his 5-year-old daughter (my sister), who needed a mother figure in her life, and how my mother’s face softened as she accepted his proposal, knowing she would be a mother, instantly. I didn’t come along for another 13 years and my brother another 17.

He was not a perfect person, but despite his faults and failings, he loved us all. He kept telling us how much through his stories, the memories his dementia could not take away.

If you haven't read them, here are two stories I wrote about my dad: I, Brutus and The Flying Cockroach.

Upcoming…

• June’s writing prompt:

  One Hundred-Word Wonders, 19 June 2024

  For those who want to get a head start, themes are Gluttony and Temperance, and the prompt word is FIREFLY. Write in exactly 100 words, a story, poem, or creative non-fiction in any genre, using ONE theme only. Use the prompt word or its plural, as many times as you wish. Pieces should be exactly 100 words, no more or less. The 100-word count does not include the title. Hold your piece until the 19th!

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