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Best Poems Written by Patti Downey

Below are the all-time best Patti Downey poems as chosen by PoetrySoup members

Details | Patti Downey Poem

Contented

Two hearts pulse softly
as night feeds the light
	that opens the door.

		A purring motor
		vibrates the bed with
			contented whiskers.

			Unconditional love
			so grateful for a
				rough tongue on my skin.

				Deep satisfaction –
				a bed shared with a 
					toy mouse on a string.

Details | Patti Downey Poem

The Lunch Pail


He left for work, lunch pail in hand –
a warm kiss on the cheek at the door.
His arms wrapped me in a big, bear hug –
he promised he’d be home at four.

The feel of his embrace as a warm cocoon –
made me happy to be alive.
The sound of his tires on the gravel –
as he slowly pulled out of the drive.

My father was my inspiration -
like a tissue for all of my tears.
As long as I had my pappy -
I felt cushioned from pain and fear.

The school day went by quickly –
a blanket of white outside.
I stuck my tongue out to taste the snow –
and the cold melted warm as pie.

Stunned by the silence of an empty house –
an indication of something gone wrong.
A tremble of fear like a chill in the air –
the startling message on the phone.

My father would not be home at four –
his heart gave out on the job.
He was breathing artificial life -
my own heart began to throb.

I tasted tears all through the night -
my pulsing heart in shock.
I watched the passing of the moon -
like a total eclipse of the clock.

The piercing sound of the ringing phone –
at precisely half past six.
I heard my mother fall to the floor –
the shock of a loss too big.

It was March of 1976 and the lunch pail sat alone –
I would never again hear the sound of his tires.
He was never coming home.