Login
|
Join PoetrySoup
Home
Submit Poems
Login
Sign Up
Member Home
My Poems
My Quotes
My Profile & Settings
My Inboxes
My Outboxes
Soup Mail
Contest Results/Status
Contests
Poems
Poets
Famous Poems
Famous Poets
Dictionary
Types of Poems
Quotes
Short Stories
Articles
Forum
Blogs
Poem of the Day
New Poems
Resources
Syllable Counter
Anthology
Grammar Check
Greeting Card Maker
Classifieds
Member Area
Member Home
My Profile and Settings
My Poems
My Quotes
My Short Stories
My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder
Soup Social
Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us
Member Poems
Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Random
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread
Member Poets
Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest
Famous Poems
Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100
Famous Poets
Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War
Poetry Resources
Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetics
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
Store
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter
Email Poem
Your IP Address: 18.119.11.28
Your Email Address:
Required
Email Address Not Valid.
To Email Address:
Email Address Not Valid.
Required
Subject
Required
Personal Note:
Poem Title:
Poem
As one grows old, when evening approaches, memories too lengthen like shadows. Now I remember more often my parents wondering how much sweat and toil they had shed to make their children comfortable, how much love they lavished and what sacrifices they endured. A snapshot of my father who was a teacher by profession but more of an artist at heart. Like a warm breath of air My Dad hovers in my memory No Superman in others' eyes. A meek soul, but for me a true legend. He was a jack of all trades. He epitomized love and gentleness. Hard-working and committed to his family, He was not one to squander his time. He toiled day in and out To feed those whom he loved and sired What was he? A teacher, a farmer, or an artist? I cannot say precisely... All I can say; He was each of these, Rolled into one. I don’t think there was anyone like him around. He was my English teacher at school, And how proud I am of all that he taught me. On holidays I saw him, Shut in the loft with a brush in hand. His fingers moved over the canvas The steaming tea by his side Untouched and going cold as ice. Unmindful of everything around, He sat by the easel in the attic Focused only on the strokes that fell. When a distinct image shoots out, As the moon from behind clouds, A wave of satisfaction would gleam Across his face, His frantic nerves at once hushed, Bearing the look of one, Who, in an instant, had conquered kingdoms! He would view it from different angles. Never would seek anyone’s opinion, But gloating if he saw, Our admiring eyes fell on it. He was an avid reader too And a skilled photographer The black and white photos He caught in his camera still adorns our walls Being artistically inclined, He lived more in the world of art. But gradually things changed. To his fright, he found his hands shaky And the lines on the canvas, Going tremulous and disjointed. Couldn’t hold a brush! The zealous man grew numb, As the curtain of years fell on him! On diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease His world abruptly lost its sheen. He saw the disease weeding Its way into his life Suddenly, grown old, He lost interest in everything. We saw him sitting in his armchair So immobile, for hours on end His eyes stretched to a far horizon We displayed before him, Paintings once born of his imagination, To see if his world would brighten, And it worked! Recently, in one of my dreams, I saw him sitting at the foot of Michael Angelo, To learn the art, he couldn’t perfect In his lifetime!
CAPTCHA Preview
Type the characters you see in the picture
Required