Monday, June 18, 2007

Father's Day



When you first held me
did you know what
was in store
for you
for me
for us?
----------------------------Did it matter then?
Was there
a quid pro quo
a pre-partum agreement
Checking the pros
and cons
of an investment
for life
for generations?
----------------------------Did it matter then?
The good times
the bad ones
The triumphs
the disappointments
the simple fact that
I would forever mirror you
and you, me?
----------------------------Did it matter then?
Did you have it all
carefully planned
even then
the lessons you'd impart
the hopes you'd hold dear
the secrets that you'd
keep
clutched tightly to you
knowing, praying
I'd learn them
myself, in my own time?
----------------------------Did it matter then?
Do you live that moment
over and over
and over?
Do you ask yourself
the questions
I am asking you?
----------------------------Does it matter?
Would you change
anything?
Anything at all?
Knowing what you know
now
does it make any
difference?
----------------------------No, it doesn't.
And tell me also
did you wonder
if I
in turn
will ask myself these
questions
and will my son ask me?
---------------------------Every day...


Happy Father's Day, dad. You won't read this, but that doesn't matter...

17 comments:

the dreamer said...

that's a beautiful poem...
truly brought me to tears.

Shmuel said...

Thanks, Dreamer.
Doesn't look like anyone else dug it, though...

the dreamer said...

well, you win some, you lose some.

the poems i thought would bring many comments on my blog brought barely any...
while others that i thought were pretty plain received many...
:)

it's really nice... no matter what anyone else may think.

David_on_the_Lake said...

Beautiful...
Father son relationships are sooo vital.

And now with my sons..theyre all so different..and yet ..you have to relate to each and every one them..

Daughters are easier..in this regard..

the dreamer said...

david - they are?
i don't think daughters are easier...
(not that i have any, butt i AM ONE.)

Reb Y. Brachfeld said...

All i can say is WOW!!!
This is a masterpiece.
My wife read it twice she dosent believe that you wrote it.

Shmuel said...

Dreamer - you're right. I've seen that happen time and again...and thanks again.
Dave - at this point I'm only speaking from one side of the perspective. I don't have kids yet...My relationship with my dad has changed considerably over the years; in some ways good and in others not so good. Just grappling with those dynamics is tough enough. Kids of my own? I can only pray.
And Dreamer, it's probably a gender related thing regarding the relationships. A male parent may have an easier time with a female child because they are opposites. Alternately, a child may expect the parent of the same gender to relate better with him/her, and therefore when s/he thinks that it's not happening, tension rises. Whereas the other parent...
Reb Y.- Thanks. And why can't she believe I wrote it?

smb said...

beautiful

the dreamer said...

jewmaican - i was gonna ask you if you wrote it, too.
grin.
it seems like something off a beautiful card... one that i would for sure purchase...

you've really got a way with words.
show it more often, k?

David_on_the_Lake said...

dreamer..
girls just want to be showered with affection by their daddys
:-)

Shmuel said...

Dave- guess I'll find that out, huh?
Dreamer- maybe I'll post some of my older stuff. Keep checking...

doodlehead said...

U should show it to ur dad. 1 day.

Reb Y. Brachfeld said...

she doesn't know you that well AND its just that nice that as the dreamer said youd expect to see on a card
keep up the good work!

the dreamer said...

david - lol.

jewmaican - please do...

the dreamer said...

oh, and jewmaican - you were worried about comment? lol.

Shmuel said...

Yeah, but most of 'em are yours!

the dreamer said...

six. (this one makes seven)
that leaves ten which aren't.

so there.
:P

(and hey, i was trying to make you feel good...)