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A clutter of wood and dust and cobwebby corners, And dappled sun shining through dirty windows; On his work table a drawing; a project in progress, And tin cans and jars of nails and screws on shelves. Tools on hooks waiting for hands that will never come, I touch the old tools like they were the finest of lace; And I cannot help thinking, who will want all this, He was a simple man, my father, and I loved him so. His death was fast, no one expected him to leave, In a blink he was gone, and all I have are memories; I linger there with the dust that floats in the sun, And I weep and weep for what I have lost this day. Then, I pick up his pencil and on his paper I write, I write this poem of pain and it is the beginning; The beginning of my writing as an adult with soul, I leave the child, that was me, and become a poet, Today. _________________________ July 21, 1997 Poetry/Free Verse/Dad's Workshop Copyright Protected, ID 1997-714-811-0 All Rights Reserved. Written under Pseudonym Entered in the contest, Celebrating My Fav's, sponsor, Andrea Dietrich First Place ________________________ Entered in the contest, Any Poem, #36 (a poem that placed in one of her past centests) sponsor, Poet Destroyer First Place ________________________ For the contest, A poem written before Poetry Soup, sponsor, Poet Destroyer Fourth Place

Copyright © | Year Posted 2015




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Date: 1/23/2023 7:57:00 PM
As I read through your poems, I am moved to tears, but so in awe of you and your family history of loving memories. My daddy had a workshop too, he blessed me so much. He let me help him build that workshop, and help him with making bookcases, beautiful wooden plaques, and candelabras. I miss my dad too, the tools, the sawdust smell of his shop; it was heavenly to me <3 I know our dads would probably have really enjoyed each other. I hope they can meet in heaven <3
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Constance La France
Date: 1/24/2023 12:22:00 PM
BJ, thank you so much for the visit, compassion and comment and compliment, I miss my day so much, hope our dads find each other in heaven, my dad made me bookcases too, Constance
Date: 3/11/2021 1:40:00 AM
What an amazing poem my eyes caught as I was searching more for your poetic gems... Oh my... almost made me want to cry.. but sorry to say so... now just leave it all dear Constance... Am faving this... usually daughters are more attached to dad, I too... this poem, like all your gems, is straight from heart.. The last stanza.. is just amazing.. Am sure I will re-read it.. Hugs.. ~ Ani
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Constance La France
Date: 3/11/2021 8:46:00 AM
Ani, you picked a very special poem written in 1997 the day my father died, it was the day I became a true poet, the day I found my poetic voice buried deep within, everything before had just been practice and I began writing with passion, feelings and emotion from that day on _Constance
Date: 5/30/2020 9:17:00 PM
This is so very touching and so introspective. A beautiful poem.
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Date: 4/20/2020 7:29:00 AM
O this poem gave me shivers ~ the rite of the child graduating to that hard earned next level of self actualization. Great poem, Constance.
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Constance La France
Date: 4/20/2020 4:49:00 PM
Line, thanks for the nice comment, yes, my fathers parting gift was the gift of inspiration to begin writing again _Constance
Date: 9/8/2016 4:02:00 PM
I too lost my father and went through a similar mix of emotions. A few months later, to my complete surprise, here I am sharing my inward journey online. You clearly write "with soul" and it obviously resonates very, very well.
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Date: 5/1/2016 7:15:00 PM
Broken, Congratulations on your win in Andrea's fave contest. XOX - LINDA
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Constance La France
Date: 5/5/2016 5:55:00 PM
Linda, thanks for the congrats ~
Date: 4/29/2016 3:46:00 PM
My sympathy go out to you at the loss of your father...Enjoyed reading your winning work..Congrats..Sara
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Constance La France
Date: 4/29/2016 9:24:00 PM
Sara, thanks for your compassion and the congrats ~
Date: 4/28/2016 3:16:00 PM
So true and so painfully beautiful.loved it!
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Constance La France
Date: 4/28/2016 3:21:00 PM
Sara, thanks for visiting with the beautiful and love ~~
Date: 4/28/2016 9:36:00 AM
I remember this nostalgic poem! Congrats on being Andrea's fave!
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Constance La France
Date: 4/28/2016 3:22:00 PM
Balveen, yes, I have done well with this poem, thanks for the congrats ~~
Date: 4/27/2016 1:39:00 PM
This is an outstanding creation. You briefly describe your dad's workshop. A great read today................with love
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Constance La France
Date: 4/27/2016 6:54:00 PM
MD, thanks for visiting, my Dad loved that workshop, it was his second home, full of Mom's coffee mugs, she would say to him, "bring back my mugs!" thanks for the love ...
Date: 4/27/2016 11:43:00 AM
wonderful memories - really brought a lump to my throat :-) many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
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Constance La France
Date: 4/27/2016 6:55:00 PM
Jan, thanks for the wonderful and the congrats... I still have some of my Dad's drawings of projects, and even some of his tools, hugs back ~
Date: 4/27/2016 10:56:00 AM
wow lady...amazing just amazing..I can see why its a fave! Congrats :)-luloo
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Constance La France
Date: 4/27/2016 6:55:00 PM
Laura, thanks for the wow and amazing and the congrats !!!
Date: 3/17/2016 9:24:00 PM
I'm not prone to crying but let me say, the innocence of this, the pure and simple love you had for your father has really got me...I can see his tools and shop in my mind, along with the dust that floats in the sun and can feel the loneliness of touching his tools. wow. This is just so lovely and nostalgic..
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Constance La France
Date: 3/17/2016 9:27:00 PM
Shaunda, thank you for that beautiful compassionate comment, oh yes I loved my father very much, the gift he left me is the gift of writing, an hour after his death, I wrote my first real poem...and have never stopped ....
Date: 3/15/2016 8:05:00 AM
Congrats BW, for your well, deserved WIN in the contest!!! I love the desert photo ;-)
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Constance La France
Date: 3/15/2016 2:03:00 PM
Teddy, thanks for visiting with the congrats and the compliment on my photo choice ~
Date: 3/13/2016 1:08:00 PM
Beautiful piece, congratulations and condolences. Peace be with you
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 4:49:00 PM
Charlie, thanks for visiting my poem with the beautiful and the congratulations and the compassion, appreciate !
Date: 3/13/2016 12:28:00 PM
Excellent and congrats! Sorry for your loss.
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 4:55:00 PM
Susan, thanks for the excellent and the congrats and the compassion !
Date: 3/13/2016 10:40:00 AM
Way to go Contance, congrats on your top spot!
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 5:55:00 PM
Richard, thanks for the compliment and the congrats, appreciate !
Date: 3/13/2016 10:04:00 AM
Broken Wing, Congratulations on your awesome win. Thank you so much for supporting my contest. Stop by my blog "LAST CALL" if you like. ((( note from MEakaPD Thank you ALL for waiting and chilling, while I sat on the sideline. Since March 1st, I moved to the 4th largest city in the USA (by population.) One of the hardest decisions EVER-EVER!!! I will keep short on my visits until April 1st. After that, there's no holding me back LOL -unless God has other plans. Always & Forever ~LINDA~
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:13:00 PM
Linda, thanks for another great contest and for my wonderful placement, appreciate !
Date: 3/13/2016 9:52:00 AM
Hi Broken Wings, Wow, congratulations on yet another outright win in a contest. Well deserved, as this is a very poignant piece, every word infused with imagery and heartfelt emotion. Some wise person once told me that a poet must suffer to be good. Like all fine art, poems such as this will live much longer than us frail mortals. Cheers, Brian
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:30:00 PM
Brian, thanks for the wow and the congratulations and the wonderful comment, appreciate so much ~
Date: 2/26/2016 4:42:00 PM
Hi Broken Wings. Congrats on your placement. I must say that, having read three poems of yours over the last few minutes, I must now cease. "I'm loving it", but my eyes are drawing too many tears. I must take a break. Hugs and much "Agape Love" my friend.
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Constance La France
Date: 2/27/2016 7:59:00 AM
Curtis, oh thank you so much for visiting my older poems, this was the first real poem I wrote and it was written an hour after my fathers death, and now I know which poem to select for PD's contest, any poem that placed in one of her contests in the past, this is it, no other could ever be the one... I think God himself sent you to me today.
Date: 10/19/2015 11:42:00 PM
A sweet win, Broken... SKAT
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:31:00 PM
Skat, thank you so much for visiting, appreciate !
Date: 10/18/2015 9:53:00 AM
Moved to read this again. Congrats on your win Constance.
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:32:00 PM
Richard, thank you for the congrats !!
Date: 10/17/2015 6:20:00 AM
Like all other poems this too is heart wrenching, Wings! Congrats on your win!
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:32:00 PM
Balveen, thanks for the great comment and the congrats !
Date: 10/17/2015 4:09:00 AM
What a lovely and heartfelt write, Constance! From grief and sadness a shoot sprouted...the gift of poetry! ~ Congratulations on this deserved win. ~ Warm regards // paul
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:33:00 PM
Paul, thank you for a wonderful comment and for the congratulations, so grateful !
Date: 10/17/2015 12:58:00 AM
Emotive heartfelt tribute to ur dad broken! Loved this read, congrats on superb win!
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Constance La France
Date: 3/13/2016 7:34:00 PM
Upma, thanks for the compliment and the congrats ~
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Book: Shattered Sighs