Notes About The Poem
7/14/2024 for E Form - Elegy Poetry Contest sponsored by Constance La France
Thanks Dad
I appreciate, more than grieve, you.
If I have a regret,
it's that I didn't convey my appreciation
when you were here.
We had our disagreements,
on different sides of a generational divide,
but there were so many more good times than bad.
You were a friendly face in a war zone,
calm, kind, funny - an easy man to like.
By example, you showed me how to laugh at trouble,
how to fix a bike,
how to make a plan, and
slowly and methodically,
execute it...and
to, literally and figuratively,
whistle while you work.
You said, "you're alright -
did anyone ever tell you that?"
When you came home from work,
You asked, "how's it going?"
"I don't know", I answered.
I didn't know how to talk to you.
"What don't you know?" you asked.
"I don't know", I answered.
"You don't know what you don't know?", you laughed.
We had that conversation every night.
Being around you was fun,
raking leaves,
mowing the lawn,
picking up vacuum tubes for the TV.
The last time I saw you,
I didn't feel free to speak.
I didn't understand
Your hand squeeze language.
A happy man,
you lived to ninety.
If I have a regret,
it's that I didn't convey my appreciation
when you were here.
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