Best Familyme Poems
silk dreams
weave a path
of ancient memories
leading me towards a shared destiny
with my ancestors
blessing me with visions
they dreamt
and now I see
~inspired by my interest in finding and walking 'labyrinths' around the Midwest...
I remember long ago when I was just a child
Climbing into Grandma’s arms and the way she smiled
She’d hold me close and rock me, kiss me on my head
When I’d fall asleep she’d gently put me in my bed
There was a coal stove in the kitchen used for cooking and for heat
When Grandpa picked blueberries, she’d bake us a special treat
For the little things in life, we would thank the Lord above
We had more than what we needed, we were enriched by love
While Grandma was doing wash, I would be playing on the floor
Sometimes we’d take a walk down to the grocery store
After supper she’d be tired and sit down in the rocking chair
I’d climb into Grandma’s arms. I was always happy there.
Grandpa
Telling me always
about the old world
trying to make me
an understanding girl.
I love You
None can ever replace you.
From time to time I find myself staring into the heavens lit by our stars
The elders spoke of each star having its name, and how God knew the all by it
At a very young age I grew much interest in adventure, to be an explorer of such
Dream after dream, a huge imagination for images costed no money, dreams of much
I lived by my creativity and will to be strong
Not many believed in me
Some of which even put me down, stateing that I was worth nothing
With a shattered heart I saw the days evolve into night
Patiently awaiting the sight of the first star
Dropping to my knees making a wish upon the first star in view
Who would know that the stars grant no wish
My first language was spanish
Not a single word of english or french I spoke
Growing up in grade school, I was the cause of many jokes
I had not much but a few rags that I kept clean as best to my ability
Shoes with holes made my month
None mattered because the love I searched was not of school but of my own home
Always been so different
A mind of a genius
The will of a warrior
But the love of...
When the tide is high swim not
For a tormented sea might just never return you
I play guilt
Guilt I know not for I made it as best I could
Sing me a song that I may sing to
Paint me a portrait so that I too may loose in the form and color
Write me a poem so that I may see it play
Pardon me for not being what you wanted me to be
Pardon me for being me
I hope one day you may forgive my life
I meant no disrespect, what did I ever do to you
You abused me and stomped on my heart
You punched my soul right out
I'm sorry for not being you
And I pass to find my joy
I will live to meet my future
This one is for you dad
Who is your hero?
As for me, I would have to say,
"My Daughter, My Hero."
She brings joy and happy tears to my eyes each time she says,
"Mommy, I Love You."
So once again I ask
who is your hero?
And once again I reply
"My Daughter, My Hero"
Although my reasons would change for I have so many,
She is my hero for she brings laughter when I am sad, and is there to inform me
that everything will be alright.
She is my hero for she is there to take care of me as I am there for her.
She comes to me before any other.
And once again I ask,
Who is your hero?
As for me, I again reply,
"My Daughter, My Hero."
I followed you around when we were young
I worshiped you; your praises I sung
You were so much older and wiser and right
You were my north star in my blackest night
I broke your clowns when I was three
I cried on your shoulder when I skinned my knee
You were always there when I needed a friend
You were the unwavering force that would not bend
We sang in the kitchen, you and me
Classic oldies, and ballads and Fiddle de Dee
Summertime in soprano and bass
Our own special concert in a warm homey place
I grew to my teens and you threatened the boys
Not letting them treat me like one of their toys
Then off to war you went and I cried and I prayed
That God would return you to us as we waited afraid
Home you came; we wed the loves of our life’s
Through happiness, birth and the day to day strife’s
We shared every one; burdens and bliss
Even the death of our parents, we made it through this
You moved across country but we still stayed in touch
Birthdays, holidays, grandchildren and such
But you called me tonight to give me the news
That my best friend and my brother was singing the blues
The prognosis wasn’t good; I cannot accept
I cussed, and I paced and then I just wept
Now I'm praying again that He'll answer my plea
To help you, to cure you, to keep you with me.
One of my grandsons, name of Benjamin
He likes eating toast made with cinnamon
But uses his wits
To not eat his grits
Then excuses himself like a gentleman
Charlie thrives on competition
Out smarting you is his mission
Bear hugs
Tiny bugs,
And “stick to it” repitition
William’s impish smile is contagious
The attention he wants is outrageous
That slobbery kiss
He can’t let you miss
Borders on being sanctimonious
The little princess is Laura Nance
She wears frilly, girlish underpants
She loves a warm lap
Cartoons and a nap
Getting attention with a coy glance
Joseph loves learning karate
He seldom is rude or naughty
A steady grind
Kicking behind
Finding wisdom beats the haughty
There is much to say of Caroline
She is definitely DNA of mine
Quietly aggressive
Lovingly possessive
She calculates when to toe the line
Jackson just started to first grade
I’m sure he has more game plans made
Like the rest
Mom knows best
His lunch is PBJ and marmalade
Colin just finished his S.A.T.
I’m sure he did better than me
Sharp as a tack
Knows how to rack
The pool balls to break wimpily.
Derek made the junior varsity
The “main man” he would seem to be.
Fit to be tied,
Praise not denied,
He’s still that six foot little boy to me.
Ryan—such a smart young man
I teach him a card trick when I can
He learned how to play
Challenged me one day
Skunked me then got up and ran
Three dogs, alpaca and a kit
Where in my family do they fit
My pseudo grands
By a daughter’s hands
Who admires them more than a bit
© 02 Dec 2010 Charles Henderson
My mom is always there
She can be my mom
Or she can be my friend.
She is very beautiful
And she doesn’t admit
That she’s humble about it.
She stays true to her word
And she makes me laugh so hard
Most of the time she’s happy
And some of the time she’s grumpy.
She will always be my mommy
She amazes me on what she can do
And she will always be my superhero.
Grandpa had so many folks and things he cared for;
God's Creation, his family, nation and very much more.
I sorta thought I was special to him, the apple of his eye,
Showering love on me of which he had and abundant supply!
One of his dear possessions in which he took special pride,
Was given to him by Grandma when he took her as his bride.
A handsome railroad pocket watch is was, a Waltham by name,
Exquisitely encased in gold with ornate etching 'round its frame.
Grandpa was always clad in a stylish suit and vest,
With an elegant gold chain and fob draped across his chest.
Asked the time, with a twinkle in his eye and practiced panache,
He'd produce his watch and tell you the time as quick as a flash!
His daily routine was ruled by the watch and it would never fail,
If his meals weren't on time, at Grandma he'd rail!
He'd look at his watch and say, "It's time for my afternoon nap,"
And he'd invite me to join him on his comforting lap!
Grandpa cherished that old watch - it was wound only by him,
But time passed on, he grew frail, his eyes grew dim.
He called me aside one day saying, "This watch is yours my lad.
Pass it to your son and tell him it's from his Great Grandad."
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired (© All Rights Reserved)
I hated you for your iron,
cracking and slipping through my
own disaster,
weeping,
engraving linoleum into my bones and joints
and praying to stand but never having the heart.
You shoved my face into the wall so many times-
forcing my skin under your fingernails while you smiled-
I began to think it was an embrace,
shaking my head to shake you off
and hoping you didn’t love me
as much as you claimed.
I dreamed of the day I could return the favor.
Then you turned back.
I already had my fists raised and
curled around their handful of air,
stretching the atmosphere taut
while you covered your face.
Unexpected fingers draped
careless over your head,
grieving
and choking me into stillness
-the lone candle wick before your sorrow-
You sobbed from your own crumbling center-
the kind I make when no one's listening.
You felt for my mouth, and desecrated my lips
into pillars of salt -
the ones you mocked time and again
for weakness.
And maybe I deserved it,
because I stood with tears in my eyes
and fire in my veins
and metal in my mouth.
while the world wheeled beneath us.
I stood downcast amidst the stars,
and all the ashes of god and gomorrah,
and mumbled to myself
I
don’t
trust
you.
I can’t ever trust you.
This is going to hurt. As the catheter was inserted into
my groin, I screamed, I cried and I was forgiven.
I watched the whole procedure in awe, There before me
was my heart, vulnerable, beautiful. I saw what Dr. Dib
called the snake, come to a stop within my heart. Dr. Dib
said, " do you see the snakes tail? Yes I said. Just ahead of it
is a 100% blocked artery,Now watch! All this time which was
actually a couple short minutes, which felt an eternity with
the heart attack still in motion, he pushed the catheter
through the blockage, " I'm going to pull the catheter out
now and attach a balloon and what is called a stent. ( he showed
me what it looked like later) And re-inserted the catheter.
As the balloon arrived back at the partially open blockage,
Dr. Dib said " Are you alright?" Yes.. " Then here we go"
" Keep watching" The balloon was inserted into the blockage
inflated a bit, deflated and pulled back into the stent. The
balloon and stent were re-inserted and the balloon re-inflated
until the stent locked into place in the artery. As soon as the
balloon was removed from the in place stent, the pain was gone.
From massive pain to no pain in an instant. I felt that
voice again, " You still have work yet to do" I prayed, I
thanked God, I thanked Dr. Dib for saving my life, he smiled
and said " You're going to be fine, rest now" As I was
now whisked to the Cardiac ICU all wired for sound,
The hand remained, ever present. Finally less than an hour
after it started, it was over, basically. I was in my room to
be greeted by the smiling, yet concerned face of my Mary.
I knew the full impact of God's Grace and Love for me.
She said do you want me to get Josh from school? "Yes".
She kissed me, told me she loved me and for me to rest.
I closed my eyes, feeling more at peace than I had in years.
I awoke to see my wonderful Son concerned, yet strong.
He kissed my forehead. The hand that was holding mine slipped
away and was replaced by Josh's. I felt his love ever present,
my hand in his.
Thank you Dr. Dib, Thank you Mary and Josh and all who love me.
Thank you Father! from your Loving Son!
Under lock and key
no way of escape
yet everyone else
is free to roam the streets
Sinking and sinking
suffocating under pressure
Treated as a little girl
with no escape
Can't make my own choices
Stupid me does as I'm told
Left alone in a cold house
with no love
A long time from now
till my release
it's been 22 years
with hope still far off
Many things binding me home
while the other child
is as free as a bird
How can I escape?
How can I gain freedom?
because right now
I'm rotting in prison
MAN IN A SUITCASE
Used to joke how Gregory Peck was my father
But never knew why I was called Sydney.
Or why Australia’s city was named after me -
And a dozen other cities around the world farther.
My dad surely was where mum’s love-treasure was spent,
But died before I was born and before they could marry.
Her family hated this guy but she was tough, didn’t worry,
And named me after the man for whom she was meant.
She never discussed her feelings buried,
Showed no photos, never talked about him to me.
Broken hearted I guess. Who wouldn’t be?
I never knew the man she would have married.
I didn’t really cotton to the name I had.
I preferred Alan or Steve or maybe Vincent
And a dozen other names meant for a gent,
Regardless of who may have been my dad.
I also disliked the name for its ambiguity, this name Sydney
- Sort of amphibious. A name in American movies - for women,
It could swim across the ocean and in British movies - for men,
(Always small-time crooks who were chirpy and cockney).
No, I never liked the name. It wasn’t worth a jitney
To me; and I used other nicknames for many a year,
It was only used in mockery for it was relatively rare.
Even today, “Syd” is ok; but please, never call me “Sydney”
But I found a dusty old suitcase and lifted its lid
After she passed away. Her life’s treasurechest,
And out rolled some gold, photo of old soldier dressed
In uniform: he looked like me: the name on back was Syd.
That moment - Damascus Road - change of heart.
Now, proud to have it, say it, hear it. Nicknames I forbid.
I like it especially when my loving wife says “Syd”
Now with this name I’d never part.
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
Written for Linda-Marie’s contest WHAT’S IN A NAME?
i wait at night, look for your star
i feel you close, but bodys so far
taken away, removed all your pain
your words and your wisdom, were the things that i gain
long late night chats, getting blind drunk
sharing a beer, or smoking some skunk
i miss all those things, i miss how we talk
i miss when you used me to lean on to walk
i miss when us kids were just little nippers
or when you stunk the house out when cooking your kippers
i miss when we went driving for hours on end
you wernt just a dad you were my best friend
laughing and joking, like when mum burnt the gravey
or the storys you told bout being young in the navey
the tears and the crying, the shouting and screaming
and now that your gone i wake hoping im dreaming
the quick witted mind, but you were sometimes a knob
but now your at peace, reunited with rob
you once told me a secret, when i was eleven
so god bless you dad, is my message to heaven.
I wake from the monster
coming home from his usual
rage
Looks like he is drunk again,
like an animal escaping from
his cage
The pian in his eyes shows as
he lines up his poison
He puts his nose on the
forsaken table and sniffs in
With no regret he grabs the
arm band and ties it around his
bicep
So he can make his reminiscing
mind forget
Forget about the past as he
injects more poison in his veins
But little does he know, that I
can never make this memory
go away
But what happened next scars
me to this day
With his drunken high haze
He calls me over from the
shadows like a slave
He looks at me like an enemy
on a battlefiled
I had fear in my eyes and
thought i'd be killed
He states that i've ruined his
life
And he calls me a mistake and
to get out of his sight
I was 7 years old and couldn't
move
Was frozen as he grabbed my
hand and put it on the stove
He turns the heat on low like it
was a game
Hovering my hand over the
flame
Did this give him pleasure and
satisfaction?
In the morning he won't
remember a single action
As my hand feels the heat rise
He pulls from his grip because
his high has died
So I run back into my room as
he reloads
He grabs the glass container
and lines up another line before
he goes
Does my father realize the pain
he brings
The screams my pain sings?
No of course not, all he cares
about is his poison and brew
He used to be a hero in my
eyes, but now he is just a fool
To this day I remember these
memories in my nightmares
But like I said he doesn't care
In his eyes I a a mistake, all he
cares about is his next fix
He is a monster, my father, an
addict