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Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Hello, Smiley!

This year
I read the
Father’s Day cards
and my heart
didn’t crumple
from missing you.

I miss your jokes, Smiley
and your soft, brown forehead,
like weathered leather,
with natural, wide creases,
made by wiggling your eyebrows
like Groucho
to punctuate a punchline.

I have a toolbox
like yours,
a pliers-like
pincher grip
like you,
and a determination
to fix the broken things
in my house,
just like you.

I hear your voice
whenever I drop
a screw:
“don’t start swearing,
immediately look to see
where it went.”

Whenever I did you a favor
you’d thank me by saying
“your reward will be
in Heaven.”

When we meet again
in the next life,
I’ll say “Hello, Smiley”
and that will be my reward.

35 comments:

  1. That third stanza is positively brilliant.

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  2. wiggling your eyebrows
    like Groucho
    to punctuate a punchline.

    That is beautifully expressed. I am especially moved by the idea of the son having a toolbox as his father did and hearing his voice in the every tasks. Very poignant.

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  3. This was so moving.. so beautifully expressed..!

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  4. Anonymous10:58 AM

    Beautiful thoughts of your father. I should count myself lucky that i will stand in front of the father's day cards today. But it's those ever-lasting Smiley memories that we all want. I'm glad you have those happy memories.

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  5. Whenever someone close to me has died, the main source of comfort I search for is reassurance that, one day, it won't hurt to remember. So the first stanza grabbed me directly. Also, the way you have written makes your dad seem very huggable, which reinforces the idea that this poem is about that stage of grieving where pain isn't the main consequence of his memory.

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  6. Love the way you portray your father.. and I guess we turn like our parents when we grow older.. it may be the toolbox or something else. Lovely tribute

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  7. Lovely poem

    Much love...

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  8. I just love the sweet details of your father here.

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  9. What a beautiful dad you had. I love the Groucho eyebrows! And that your reward will, indeed, be seeing him again in heaven.

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  10. How lucky you are to have enjoyed such a warm and loving relationship with your father.

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  11. A warm and affectionate poem. Loved it !

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  12. Aw, really nice. And I love the advice to look for the damn thing before getting all distracted with cursing about it. :) Some wise dad stuff there.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:24 PM

      I loved that, too, and the "determination
      to fix the broken things
      in my house,
      just like you." Wonderful memories and what a nice man!

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  13. Thoroughly enjoyed this, and love the ending.

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  14. This is so very touching! I would guess it really felt good to reflect on 'Smiley' in this poem

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  15. I love every single thing about this poem--starting with the card shop and having come to terms with death. For these memories to give smiles and to call him Smiley--to know that the reward is waiting for you in heaven (even if you look for a dropped nail immediately).

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  16. "and a determination / to fix the broken things / in my house, / just like you."...the best gift one can inherit...enjoyed the flow of heartfelt, loving and brilliant words....

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  17. Beautifully penned and great feeling in this, full of affection

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  18. Anonymous11:49 AM

    this is so, so sweet. brought tears to my eyes

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  19. Awww, love this one. You made me smile and sniff.

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  20. Oh goodness...goosebumps and whoosh in your closing lines...delivered perfectly...what a loving poem. Thank you.

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  21. That third stanza...wow! And to think that simply seeing him again is reward enough....that speaks volume to the love between the two of you.

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  22. Oh this just speaks of love on so many levels--gorgeous

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  23. It is not hard to look back and smile at your long gone father and remember everything all that he taught you and how safe you felt with him.

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  24. So simple and direct - brought tears to my eyes with its clear sincerity.

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  25. Missing our fathers can be a very long and difficult time, thanks for the poem.

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  26. What a beautiful piece - intimate and touching..and no doubt resonates with many of your readers

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  27. What a lovely memories to treasure and recall of a dearly loved father..Your final line is a teardrop of love...

    Eileen

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  28. Very poignant and vividly imagined poem. I had to go back and re-read it...

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  29. Wow! A sweet and tender look at your father. The last stanza touched me.

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  30. Thank you for sharing such a poignant piece Buddah Buddy! *waving bonjour* Comment allez-vous mon ami?

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    Replies
    1. Oui , mon ami, je me sens bien. Envoi amour toujours !

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