I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

28 June 2016

My Dad

Grew roses,
strawberries,
ferns and bamboo.

Made wooden dolls
from round-topped clothes-pegs,
drawing faces on.

Sketched for me
water-colour flowers; I remember
pink heath’s delicate bells.

When I had nightmares
sat with me into dawn,
telling stories.

At parties, played
comb-and-tissue
mouth organ;

declaimed with gestures
‘Abdul the Bulbul Emir’
or some Rabbie Burns.

Made an acrostic poem
every family birthday,
the person’s name down the side.

Laughed
sang
danced.


Linking to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #309

 Cross-posted to my verse portraits blog, Impressions You Left

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21 comments:

  1. Mary3 July 2016 at 08:26

    He sounds like a wonderful father, Rosemary. I like the idea that he made acrostic poems for birthdays. Anyone can BUY a birthday card, but it takes a special person to write an acrostic poem.

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  2. Sumana Roy3 July 2016 at 15:06

    what a delightful poem!...and "Bulbul" reminds me of my grandma(maternal) who used to call me Bulbul and sometimes Bulbuli and the name has stuck to me as my nickname ...in fact I'm Bulbuli to all my cousins, uncle and aunts :)

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  3. Anonymous3 July 2016 at 16:46

    Such wonderful memories... sounds like a great dad!

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  4. brudberg3 July 2016 at 16:47

    Oh I do love a father can also be a friend without conditions... To make toys instead of buying them, it sounds wonderful,

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  5. SuyashJ3 July 2016 at 16:55

    So delightful! Lovely tribute to your dad !

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  6. totomai3 July 2016 at 17:40

    Acrostics! They are very interesting to make. Lovely tribute you have here, Rosemary. I believe you and your father had a great time when you were still young

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  7. Jae Rose3 July 2016 at 17:57

    Such sweet memories - each one seeming to sink into you - as the very best people do

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  8. Sanaa Rizvi3 July 2016 at 19:14

    Oh Rosemary this is such a tender and heartfelt write.. especially adore the images where he "Sketched for me water-colour flowers; I remember pink heath’s delicate bells." Beautifully penned.

    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

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  9. Old Egg3 July 2016 at 19:59

    Each of our fathers sits comfortably in our memories for how he loved being our Dad, talking, teaching, playing with us and loving us just as we do with our own children. How touching this is Rosemary.

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  10. Magical Mystical Teacher4 July 2016 at 00:20

    What a marvelous tribute to your dad!

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  11. Sherry Blue Sky4 July 2016 at 01:13

    Such a lovely father! Love the acrostics!

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  12. Gillena Cox4 July 2016 at 01:31

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful memories Rosemary

    Much love...

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  13. Donna@LivingFromHappiness4 July 2016 at 01:39

    Oh Rosemary what a special, special tribute to your dad.....his great love for you and life sings through your words, and touches my heart as it conjures up images of my dad too! Thank you!

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  14. Magaly Guerrero4 July 2016 at 01:56

    What a wonderful man... and what a miracle of a dad.

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  15. Kerry O'Connor4 July 2016 at 02:54

    Your list style poem works well for your subject.

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  16. Matthew Henningsen4 July 2016 at 03:52

    This truly is a portrait. A glimpse at a person, and a life. I really enjoyed this.

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  17. ninotaziz4 July 2016 at 04:51

    Rosemary

    I know you are absolutely lucky.

    For he

    Laughed
    sang
    danced.

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  18. C.C.4 July 2016 at 15:13

    I love how personal this is..how your dad did these special things for YOU and you now hold them dear and close to your heart as meaningful reminders of how he loved and cared for you.

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  19. ZQ4 July 2016 at 22:41

    Delightful... I forgot about the "tissue comb" kazoo :-)
    ZQ

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  20. Wendy Bourke5 July 2016 at 10:08

    You have sketched this piece so tenderly. How lucky you are to have had such a father.

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  21. dsnake17 July 2016 at 01:27

    such sweet memories. sounds like a great dad!
    liked the style of your poem. a list poem in 3-lined stanzas. :)

    ReplyDelete

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