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A Dad's Love - Craig Cornish's Blog

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A Dad's Love

Blog Posted:6/18/2017 10:33:00 AM

The following is an excerpt from a letter George HW Bush wrote to his mother a few years after he and Barbara lost their 3 year old daughter Robin to lukemia. It is not only sad and true but beautiful poetic prose;

There is about our house a need. The running, pulsating restlessness of the four boys as they struggle to learn and grow, their athletic chests and arms and legs, their happy noises as the world embraces them . . . all this wonder needs a counterpart. We need some starched crisp frocks to go with all our torn-kneed blue jeans and helmets. We need some soft blonde hair to offset those crew cuts. We need a doll house to stand firm against our forts and rockets and thousand baseball cards. We need a cut-out star to play alone while the others battle to see who's "family champ". We even need someone who could sing the descant to "Alouette" while outside they scramble to catch the elusive ball aimed ever roofward, but usually thudding against screens.

We need a legitimate Christmas angel -- one who doesn't have cuffs beneath the dress. We need someone who's afraid of frogs. We need someone to cry when I get mad, not argue. We need a little one who can kiss without leaving egg or jam or gum. ... We need a girl. We had one once -- she'd fight and cry and play and make her way just like the rest. But there was about her a certain softness. She was patient -- her hugs were just a little less wiggly. Like them, she'd climb in to sleep with me, but somehow she'd fit. She didn't boot and flip and wake me up with a pug nose and mischievous eyes a challenging quarter-inch from my sleeping face. No, she'd stand beside our bed until I felt her there. Silently and comfortably, she'd put those precious locks against my chest and fall asleep. Her peace made me feel strong, and so very important.

"My Daddy" had a caress, a certain ownership, which touched a slightly different spot than the "Hi Dad" I love so much.

But she is still with us. We need her and yet we have her. We can't touch her, and yet we can feel her.

We hope she'll stay in our house for a long, long time.

 



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Date: 6/19/2017 1:12:00 AM
This letter touches the heart, Craig, he's written it excellently:) hope you had a great Father's Day:)
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Craig Cornish
Date: 6/19/2017 1:40:00 PM
Thanks Jo, I did---I don't need a card or a gift, but a call that says I love you takes care of everything and it did.
Date: 6/18/2017 8:37:00 PM
This is a poignant love letter to a child that will never be forgotten, and who has remained close to his heart for all of these many years. What a lovely dedication to a beloved little girl. Thank you for sharing. And Happy Father's Day, Craig :)
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Craig Cornish
Date: 6/19/2017 1:41:00 PM
Thanks Dear Carrie
Date: 6/18/2017 4:49:00 PM
wow, he writes very well! Touching words!
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/19/2017 3:39:00 PM
Yep, it's the techie generation!!
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Craig Cornish
Date: 6/18/2017 5:12:00 PM
Yes Andrea, The shame of it is that past generations did write much better (he was obviously better educated than many) because they were trained most exclusively in the three r's reading, writing and 'rithmatic. Some writings from average soldiers from the civil war would make most of us cringe in comparison. The biggest complaint in the last 30 years is that younger people don't know how to write.
Date: 6/18/2017 1:06:00 PM
The pain of losing a child is beyond compare, boy or girl. The parent is forever second guessing, could I have done more or could I have done something different. The answer never comes. It is a beautifully written letter.
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Craig Cornish
Date: 6/18/2017 2:08:00 PM
Yes Daniel, I pray I'll never experience losing a child.
Date: 6/18/2017 12:42:00 PM
oh Craig, you're so right, this is just beautiful. Made me cry. Thank you for sharing this. Wishing you a wonderful father's day, dear friend.
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Craig Cornish
Date: 6/18/2017 2:10:00 PM
Thanks Dear Becca, Hope your family has a happy Fathers Day as well--Hugs

My Past Blog Posts

 
Silence
Date Posted: 6/10/2025 11:29:00 AM
Wilderness of Mirrors
Date Posted: 5/22/2025 11:09:00 AM
Contest
Date Posted: 4/1/2025 12:35:00 PM
Expert Advice
Date Posted: 1/26/2025 6:49:00 AM
More Poetic Christmas Trivia
Date Posted: 12/4/2024 11:06:00 AM
Rudolph History
Date Posted: 12/3/2024 7:16:00 AM
what makes sense ---perspective
Date Posted: 11/30/2024 1:09:00 PM
The Optimist
Date Posted: 11/8/2024 9:11:00 AM
Modifier Monotony
Date Posted: 11/1/2024 11:16:00 AM
Complicated Simplicity
Date Posted: 10/8/2024 11:41:00 AM
AI and ME
Date Posted: 10/4/2024 8:28:00 AM
AIBS
Date Posted: 10/1/2024 2:04:00 PM
She's always a Woman
Date Posted: 8/5/2024 10:28:00 AM
Contest etc
Date Posted: 7/23/2024 3:17:00 PM
The Old Gentleman with the Amber Snuff-Box
Date Posted: 6/26/2024 1:06:00 PM
Melancholy Moon - Greg Barden
Date Posted: 6/23/2024 10:22:00 AM
The empty room contest
Date Posted: 6/10/2024 12:52:00 PM
Written Long Ago
Date Posted: 5/13/2024 2:17:00 PM
Silence SPEAKS
Date Posted: 5/11/2024 12:29:00 PM
Who Wrote about a Lamb Where?
Date Posted: 4/20/2024 7:13:00 AM
Some Tidbits on Writing
Date Posted: 3/27/2024 11:19:00 AM
Black and White
Date Posted: 3/22/2024 10:21:00 AM
Shizumano Taiyo Contest etc.
Date Posted: 3/3/2024 9:40:00 AM
Haiku 201
Date Posted: 12/27/2023 11:56:00 AM
Haiku
Date Posted: 12/23/2023 1:00:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
7/6/2025 Misty River Rainbows Free verseallusion,
7/4/2025 Forgotten Dreams Versedream,
6/16/2025 cobblestone Crystallinehumor,
6/14/2025 Lost and Broken Free versedepression,hope,love,
6/12/2025 Time for Champagne Abecedariansunset,
6/5/2025 Silence Listens Free verseimagination,
5/30/2025 wildflower Monokudream,
5/26/2025 Grey Free versebereavement,death,
5/9/2025 Road Trip Versechildren,
5/5/2025 A Wilderness of Mirrors Free verseconfusion,innocence,life,
3/22/2025 Blue Cheese and Old Pickles Free verseintrospection,
3/11/2025 Shadows Suzette Primelove hurts,
2/24/2025 Listen to Your Eyes Sonnetlove,
2/21/2025 A Vine in Winter Free verseage,youth,
2/12/2025 Undergrowth with Two Figures Ekphrasishope,longing,
2/7/2025 Ivy League Free versecharacter,education,
2/5/2025 The Bard Bequeaths Sonnetfarewell,
1/27/2025 A Light Through Yonder Window Sonnetlove,
1/20/2025 A Birthing Frost Rhymeage,love,old,
1/19/2025 waken Free versesea,
1/15/2025 A Lovely Wither Free versedeath,
1/6/2025 Discontinued? Free verselife,
12/30/2024 New Years Old Wishes Free verseintrospection,new year,
11/26/2024 Obscurity Free verselife,
11/15/2024 Conflagration Free verseintrospection,
11/7/2024 Jolted by Twilight Free verselove,memory,
11/1/2024 Bodacious Rose Free versesensual,
10/24/2024 empty thoughts Free verselife,
10/18/2024 Bird of Paradise Quatrainimagination,
10/14/2024 Haunted Cemetery Rhymehalloween,
10/13/2024 Winter Wishes Sapphic stanzaseasons,
9/29/2024 Awaiting Reality - Tri Rhymeautumn,
9/28/2024 The Frost Bitten Rose Rhymefaith,hope,
9/19/2024 The Picture on the Parlor Wall Free verseart,lost love,love,
8/26/2024 The Stubborn Few Sonnetseasons,
8/18/2024 Moonlight on Meadows Sonnetdream,
8/6/2024 why Haikuintrospection,
7/10/2024 Sea Glass Blank versememory,
7/8/2024 What are WE Sonnetdeath,
6/28/2024 clouds Haikuseasons,
6/17/2024 Yesterday's Wishes Blank verselife,
6/15/2024 The Jig of Emotions Free verselost love,
6/6/2024 The Empty Room Free verseloss,
6/1/2024 The Pressed Rose Blank verseallusion,dream,
5/31/2024 A Meeting of Hearts Narrativelove,
5/25/2024 The Homefront Free verseheartbreak,war,
5/22/2024 Raining in Summer Free verserain,
5/9/2024 When Silence Speaks Sonnethistory,
4/25/2024 The Quicksand of Thought Sonnetloss,
4/12/2024 Forgotten Field of Forever Free versememory,
4/12/2024 A Wish for Spring Abecedarianseasons,spring,
4/9/2024 eclipsed-dodo Dodoitsulove,
3/31/2024 Ethereal Lantern Free versehome,hope,
3/27/2024 Making Music Free versemusic,old,
3/24/2024 Song of the Wind Personificationweather,wind,
3/18/2024 Yin - Yang Free versecreation,
3/16/2024 Let's Tango Free versenature,seasons,
3/10/2024 Woven Worlds Othertruth,
3/2/2024 A Hydrangea's Lament Free verselife,
1/23/2024 Fate Cannot Wait Limerickfunny love,
1/22/2024 A Terrible Start Limerickfunny,
1/16/2024 Unsinkable Sonnetdeath,
1/16/2024 Scentient Sijolove,
1/9/2024 Dorian Gray - A Triple Entendre Quatrainself,
1/8/2024 Shizumanu Taiyo Lyricsong,
1/1/2024 breakfast Senryunew year,
12/31/2023 Naked Apprehension Free versenew year,
12/26/2023 love Haikulove,
12/20/2023 Everywhere Free verseloss,
12/13/2023 winter sky Haikuwinter,
12/12/2023 DIVORCE Acrostichope,
12/8/2023 Wabi-Sabi Free verselife,
12/1/2023 Always Home Free verselife,
11/4/2023 Daylight Saving Free verseautumn,
11/2/2023 Morning Mood Haikulife,
11/2/2023 The Trail Ends Sign Free verseinspiration,
10/30/2023 Repurposed Evolution Free verselife,
10/24/2023 Cowplops Senryufunny,
10/14/2023 The Unsupervised Stop Sign Free versedeath,life,
10/12/2023 Erinyes Alexandrinehalloween,
10/7/2023 Phantom Dreams Alexandrinedream,
9/11/2023 Edges of a Dream Iambic Pentameterdream,
9/9/2023 Vanilla Shell Free versemorning,
8/30/2023 Golden Shovel Versestorm,
8/26/2023 A Sonnet For Becca Sonnettribute,
8/24/2023 A Fish Lass Lament Rhymehistory,
8/21/2023 Entrenching Reality Sonnetwar,
8/17/2023 Out My Window Free verselife,
8/7/2023 Pavilions of Time Sonnetmemory,
7/29/2023 When Doves Cry Sonneteulogy,
7/7/2023 Pasted Nostalgia A Prose Poetrymemory,
6/27/2023 A Silent Kind of Blue Sonnetmusic,
6/23/2023 The Scoop On the Poop Limerickfunny,
6/8/2023 Beyond the Veil Sonnetmoon,
5/17/2023 Sitka Sunset Free versesunset,
5/8/2023 Anatomy of Melancholy Free versedepression,
5/5/2023 Yonder Free versetruth,
5/2/2023 The Old Man Rhymeeulogy,
4/27/2023 Fixation Free verselife,
4/24/2023 Weave Blank versedream,life,

My Photos


Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
For I Have Weathered Storms Sonnetstorm,
On the Other Side of Cobblestone Streets Free versedestiny,dream,fate,

Fav Poets

PoetCountry 
Heather Ober Canada Flag Canada Read
Beej Simrov United States Flag United States Read
Angelica Tao United States Flag United States Read

Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry