I am my father’s daughter —
quiet when it matters,
loud when it doesn’t,
loyal like a bruise that never fades.
He was a man of few words
and too many beers,
a homebody with calloused hands
who built his love from paychecks, plywood,
and patched fences.
He didn’t say much,
but he never let us go without.
We all worked with him —
held tools before toys,
learned to measure twice, cut once,
and use what we had
to make what we needed.
He handed me a hammer
like it was a promise.
Taught me how to build things
that wouldn’t fall apart.
And somehow,
that became a kind of love too.
He taught me the stillness of fishing —
how to listen for the pull,
how to wait without wanting too much.
He showed me rivers
the way some fathers show their daughters cathedrals.
And when I stand near water now,
he’s the first name that echoes back.
His anger could shake the walls,
but his lessons still hold:
Don’t waste. Don’t lie.
Always bait your own hook.
I used to sit
in the passenger seat of his silence,
learning how love doesn’t always speak,
but shows up every morning
with boots on
and something heavy in its hands.
home
four letters
homely
similar
home run
two words
homesick
a feeling
homebody
me
homework
glad that chapter of my life is over
Homeplate
oh yes!
homeroom
no worries
homophone
to, too and two
It's hard to admit that I was in the wrong
Everything you said was right all along
You told me everything I didn't know
I should have believed you when you told me so
You saw exactly what I couldn't see
You saw the lies, the betrayal, the manipulation,the deceit
I clearly abandoned a earth angel for the enemy
" Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me "
I did you so bad I did you so wrong
Thinking I'd make you a side piece and string you along
Trying to have the best of both worlds having my cake and eating it too
I'll have the reckless party girl and the homebody, wifey material girl which is you
So much time has passed I just disappeared like I never met you
But still look at your photos and can't stop thinking about you or missing you
There's really no great excuse for treating you this way
I just hope I can make up for it some day
If I reached out to you will you care to hear me
" Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me"
Yesterday I thought of going to the gym
for a minute considered going for a swim
then I remembered I had better things to do
convinced I could come up with a thing or two
Today I was thinking again of going to the gym
but soon gave up on that reckless silly whim
instead stayed home to bake a chocolate cake
planned our supper and thawed a ribeye steak
Tomorrow I'll likely consider going to the gym
but save myself the trouble and just pretend I'm slim
afterall life's too short to waste it breaking in a sweat
while cocktail glasses await to be filled with somethin' wet
AP: 1st place 2025
All this skin holds my body
working or as a homebody
what a miracle it is
do not give me a quiz
now I need to go potty.
Under the skin we find many bones
some say they are hard as stones
bones ache from time to time
calling out a rhyme
my heart sings and never groans.
Date Written: 6/12/2023
A Double Limerick
Eagle
majestic bird
ponderous predator
clumsy flyer, adroit hunter
strong symbol of imperial power
high, inaccessible aerie
monogamous mating
staid homebody
Eagle
Traveler
eager, restless
flying, sightseeing, wandering
tourist, adventurer, recluse, resident
writing, viewing, cooking
frugal, content
Homebody
Aug. 28, 2021 for Caren Krutsinger's
Diamante Poetry For Fun - Your Choice Of Theme Poetry Contest
If I were famous – wanting to remain unseen
I’d have a secret way to leave my house.
While I’d sneak off as quiet as a mouse,
I’d have a “double” leave by limosine!
My house would have a pool inside and out!
My rooms would be so lovely and pristine
because I’d have myself (without a doubt)
a trusted staff to garden and to clean.
I’d use my money for good causes, and
I’d travel in the comfort of my jet.
Despite all that, I wouldn’t act all grand,
for never domineering could I get!
Perhaps a movie critic I would be.
I’d have a screening room. Friends I’d invite
to view new movies in my house with me.
At Oscars, in attendance I would be.
Though famous, I’d be like I am today -
still down to earth and working with my mind.
A homebody most likely I would stay,
and always I’d remember to be kind.
March 16, 2021 for Joe Sandler's If I Were Famous Poetry Contest
Proud pirate flag, peacock, pumpernickel pie,
Perfumed prairie pinwheels, paper two-ply.
Happy hanging homebody having healthy hi.
Heaving hitting heartfelt Harry hopping high.
Ballooning blissful blossoms beaconing blue Babe,
Luxurious lumberjack licking lemonade.
Merry mashing marshmallows mysteriously made.
Fine frolicking French frankfurters fearful and afraid.
It is fun to throw some alliteration into a poem like this.
My brain is laughing at the silliness, it’s like a gentle kiss.
So when you think I have no more ideas, I am simply out.
Make a list of P words, or K words, and give a little shout.
Your ready muse will be happy that you are writing anything down.
It might not make any sense at first, but it will stop a little frown.
The thing is to keep the pen moving or the fingers across the keys.
Your muse so excited, when you make cute little poems like these.
I'm logical about my passion
And passionate about my logic
I am shy and friendly
I am an extroverted introvert
I'm an intellectual who loves media glitz
I am a homebody who craves date nights outings
I'm an isolated observer of human nature
I'm an industrious couch potato
I'm a bohemian who requires a structured lifestyle
I'm a despairing romantic
Optimism and pessimism continue to crowd me
I am human...
My Aunt Bea loved her retired life,
walking around with a hair sprayed
salt and pepper gigantic beehive,
always having a buzz sound in her head,
Her friends wondered what crazy
medicine she'd been spoon fed,
they could understand having a dog for a pet,
but having a bee is what got them upset,
Aunt Bea claiming the bee loved her beehive,
that he made a nest in there and that now he thrives,
said he helps her out by giving her buzzwords,
her friends just shook they're heads
thinking this is just absurd!
Aunt Bea informing me the little bee easily gets airsick,
that why he's a homebody who rests inside her beehive "nest",
I just smiled knowingly, knowing my Aunt Bea's
always been a lover of insects and a tiny bit eccentric,
all the while thinking, guess its better than a pet tick!
brown eyes that sparkle in the sun
inspires me to take turns i thought
i would never take
i thought surely that there must have
been some kind of mix-up in God's Master
Plan
however i never questioned or challenged
his logic, meaning, or purpose
instead i just go with it and let the unsung
art of presented discovery overtake the
homebody philosophy which was my norm
when i just let go my eyes became saucers
of surefire delight
there were times when i had to pinch myself
and wear green for personal reassurance
now i live life happily with my head in clearer
clouds
instead of searching for a temporary escape, i
now search for the second, third, fourth, fifth
take and beyond.....
Long, weather-vane tail—
Brown Towhee, a Plain Jane bird,
Homebody—home here
A red ripe, sweet strawberry, fragrant tangy kisses. Tart and sweet on my tongue.
Fresh as spring, light and fit. Your rough exterior contrasts to my softness. Small
town homebody, full of seeds that spring to life on fertile soil.
For the Food for Soul contest
Thanks for the inspiration!!