As always, you have an amazing and beautiful talent with words. My curse is when I get a glance of myself in a mirror, I am startled by the image of my father. And I hate having pictures taken of me as it is always my father I see. Awesome poem!! Thank you. And, I apologize for being so late with my reading and comments; just as I was returning from that dark space in my head, I had surgery on my hands - makes it difficult to write or type. But, the colors and lights are returning for me.
My fifth child who came five years after the fourth, in my forties, looks a lot like my dad. It shocks me when I see him, especially with a fresh haircut like today. When I look into his eyes, the flash of recognition is instant, remembering looking into my father’s eyes just like that and thinking how they look just like mine, the last day I saw him alive.
My experience is the opposite. I see my father in my periphery as I walk by a mirror or glass door or window. I see him in certain facial expressions and I hear him when hiccup!
A few years ago I went to family reunion and met a bunch of people I barely knew existed. My father died years before, but at the reunion I met his last surviving brother, who was quite old. I'm glad I got to meet him, though we didn't have much to say to each other. I have a clear resemblance to my mother; I never thought I looked like my father. So it was a surprise when I stopped by Uncle's table again after having been here & there about the room, and he looked up at me suddenly and said, "Bruce!" -- my father's name.
Wow! Just wow! I have been compared with my own father’s images in photos and in real life by his siblings and friends. I only wish he was still here with us. So you have captured my feelings brilliantly in a few beautiful words! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
And, in your heart of hearts, who is it you’d like to mirror? Physically, mentally, even spiritually, always felt my only brother took on the worst of our Mother and Father, and I, the better.
Have played with my ‘mother father parts’ trying to let go and reach acceptance, though first thought not always my best (take that Ginsburg)...here’s a thought:
Thanks, Sherman--I shared this one with my sibs. It reminds me of the pride I felt when I was a boy & folks would say how much I looked like my father. Nowadays I get that good feeling when one of my daughter's students at Kendrick HS tell her how much she "sounds like" her father (or more often how her father sounds like her). We often connect at track meets.
So much truth in so few words. I look like my mother's side of the family, but replace look like with act like I'm right there.
Ah, beautiful.
As always, you have an amazing and beautiful talent with words. My curse is when I get a glance of myself in a mirror, I am startled by the image of my father. And I hate having pictures taken of me as it is always my father I see. Awesome poem!! Thank you. And, I apologize for being so late with my reading and comments; just as I was returning from that dark space in my head, I had surgery on my hands - makes it difficult to write or type. But, the colors and lights are returning for me.
Oh, no! I hope your recovery from surgery is going well.
My fifth child who came five years after the fourth, in my forties, looks a lot like my dad. It shocks me when I see him, especially with a fresh haircut like today. When I look into his eyes, the flash of recognition is instant, remembering looking into my father’s eyes just like that and thinking how they look just like mine, the last day I saw him alive.
Yes, my father's ghost does reside in me, as well.
My experience is the opposite. I see my father in my periphery as I walk by a mirror or glass door or window. I see him in certain facial expressions and I hear him when hiccup!
The hiccup! Just like my father did, I often hiccup with my first drink of something cold.
A few years ago I went to family reunion and met a bunch of people I barely knew existed. My father died years before, but at the reunion I met his last surviving brother, who was quite old. I'm glad I got to meet him, though we didn't have much to say to each other. I have a clear resemblance to my mother; I never thought I looked like my father. So it was a surprise when I stopped by Uncle's table again after having been here & there about the room, and he looked up at me suddenly and said, "Bruce!" -- my father's name.
Oh, wow, that had to be intense!
It was ... Having my dad's last living brother see my dad when he looked at me, yes, that was unexpected.
Sometimes I open my mouth and my father’s voice and words come out. It’s the strangest thing. But I welcome it. It’s better than mourning.
Yes! "Hello, Dad," I say in my Dad's voice.
Isn’t that weird? I have the same experience, although I look like my brother :-)
My two sisters, twins, and I are only 372 days apart. We very much look alike althought I'm more than a foot taller.
Lotta nature
Little nurture
Made me strong
OK being alone
All I need to be
!!!!
Perfect. True. Thank you.
Thank you, DeeDee.
Wow! Just wow! I have been compared with my own father’s images in photos and in real life by his siblings and friends. I only wish he was still here with us. So you have captured my feelings brilliantly in a few beautiful words! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us!
Thank you, Mike?
Oh man can I relate. I’ve looked at recent photos and had a double take.
Yup!!!
So nice. So true. Whenever I’m in a bar and hit the can and see myself in the mirror I wonder what the hell is my dad doing here!
Hahahahha
And, in your heart of hearts, who is it you’d like to mirror? Physically, mentally, even spiritually, always felt my only brother took on the worst of our Mother and Father, and I, the better.
Have played with my ‘mother father parts’ trying to let go and reach acceptance, though first thought not always my best (take that Ginsburg)...here’s a thought:
My hands my mothers
My spirit my fathers
Running down sidewalks
far into natures’ blessings
my need to survive
Happy Fathers Day
I'd want the best of my parents...and the crazy, too. It's all formed me, by nature and nurture.
Hoping that's a happy thing...
Yes!
Thanks, Sherman--I shared this one with my sibs. It reminds me of the pride I felt when I was a boy & folks would say how much I looked like my father. Nowadays I get that good feeling when one of my daughter's students at Kendrick HS tell her how much she "sounds like" her father (or more often how her father sounds like her). We often connect at track meets.
Yes!!!