For Josh
In response to Josh's post today, I would like to hug him, but can't. So I will simply give him this poem I wrote after I lost my own father in 2003.
Daddy
Did you find all the answers
are you waiting to share them
Do you know how respected you are
Do you swim in the ocean
look down on the earth
and shine with the brightest of stars
Have you:
talked peace with Gandhi
had tea with kings
been to Atlantis
built Stonehenge again
Replayed time just to see the big bang
Played God only to hand over the reins
Are you currently sailing to far off lands
or sitting here silently holding my hand
I like to think that you're with me right now
I like to believe that you see me somehow
and know that you're missed and respected and loved
I like to picture you smiling above
- LisB
PS: Josh -- Shalom
Daddy
Did you find all the answers
are you waiting to share them
Do you know how respected you are
Do you swim in the ocean
look down on the earth
and shine with the brightest of stars
Have you:
talked peace with Gandhi
had tea with kings
been to Atlantis
built Stonehenge again
Replayed time just to see the big bang
Played God only to hand over the reins
Are you currently sailing to far off lands
or sitting here silently holding my hand
I like to think that you're with me right now
I like to believe that you see me somehow
and know that you're missed and respected and loved
I like to picture you smiling above
- LisB
PS: Josh -- Shalom
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Nice, Lis.
August 22, 2009 7:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Josh, I checked the dates twice to be sure. You waited 3 years to be able to write this beautiful tribute to your father, and if it means anything to you, I just want you to know that it has freed me up to write of my parents -- my father died in 1980, and my mother recently died (April of this year).
Your moving words made me realize it is never too late to write a remembrance; if anything it is so appallingly sad that so many mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, and brothers are completely lost to family lore. How many of us can go back more than two generations, yet certainly there were people who had very typical needs, desires and accomplishments whose names and deeds are lost forever.
I am planning to do a DNA search of my children as a Christmas present this year. They are all adopted, and so I have no idea where it will lead. I think it is sad that we know so little about our ancestors. Thanks, Josh, for this, which will remain in Cyberspace for all of your progeny!
August 22, 2009 7:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
C'Ville, he wrote that in 2006. He just linked back to it. I do remember that, I along with a lot of his readers, sent him emails of condolences. He kinda just disappeared for a week or two, and that is what he wrote when he got back.
I was moved equally, if not more by his blog about his mom, which he links in that tribute.
He's come a long way from that laptop in a D.C. Starbucks. It blows my mind sometimes, just what a long, strange trip it's been. I just know that he helped keep me sane throughout the Bush years. At that time, his voice was one of the few true honest ones out there.
He's a remarkable man. We're all the better for Josh being there.
August 22, 2009 7:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agree, and I must have either missed it in 2006, or not remembered it, since I have been here for much longer than that year. Don't remember when I first signed on, but it had to be around 2003 or so.
August 22, 2009 8:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow, y'all have been here so much longer than me. I truly respect that, and wish I knew Josh as well and as long as you have.
I'm not sure why he reposted today, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it.
August 22, 2009 8:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
not sure why he reposted today
It's a tradition, from newspaper death notice sections, to publish a short memoriam on the anniversary date of the loss. I've seen people react to such notices as if it's the loved one trying to talk to the dead; I don't read the tradition that way, rather, it is to announce to the other living that the person lives on in memories, and to reiterate how great the loss is.
August 23, 2009 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks, AA.
August 23, 2009 7:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I forgot to mention, he did title it as the Jewish version of the tradition: Yahrzeit.
August 23, 2009 9:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
That was a wonderful poem, LisB. It could be set to music; that's the easiest way for me to grok poetry.
August 22, 2009 8:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wrote it shortly after losing my dad in December 2003. My dad's side of the family is sort of odd in that we don't do funerals right away. We have a cremation and then, about a year later, we have a huge family gathering/memorial/party in honor of our lost one.
I was asked to either read my poem aloud at my father's memorial luncheon, or have one of my sisters read it for me. I decided to read it aloud myself, even though I hate public speaking.
I got up there in front of this big crowd of family and friends, and started to read it, only to find my knees, hands AND voice were all shaking. Had to stop mid-way through. I was about to just give up, when I happened to look up and see my dad's wife, my step-mother, watching me with love in her eyes. It calmed me enough that I was able to finish.
It's the only time I've read a poem out loud. I hope to gather the nerve to do a poetry reading someday, but....not quite yet.
August 22, 2009 8:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
you are thoughtful LisB. Empathy abounds.
August 22, 2009 8:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Aw, empathy abounds in so many of us here, Gary. You included.
That's why we all love it here so much. Josh has given us a good home.
August 22, 2009 8:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
Late
Good, sweet, poetic
I never would have read his tribute....
August 22, 2009 9:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
It does remind me of my dad, what you wrote. He died when he was 47, too young. To think i have outlived him by 11 or 12 years. He had disowned me, but after his death, my husband and i hitch-hiked from colorado to ohio, and scattered his ashes on his favorite golf hole. I swear, my whole soul and my mind-pictures were entirely full of his approval, and his laughing face looking down on us! I often feel my life has been vindicated in his eyes, and I forgive him entirely, he had cruel parents who mucked him up, but he was my Pop, and i love him, and talk to him a lot even now. My mum, too.
I only wished he had lived long enought o hear Robert MacNamara apologize to the world!
August 22, 2009 9:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I remember this poem, Lis - from back when you wrote it and shared it till now. So perfect a poem and so moving..........
It just strikes me so that Josh shared his writings from back a few years as you did too. And I am in the process of writing about my Dad, your Poppie. Life is so strange sometimes, how things just happen and we say coincidence. But I think this time, it means we are meant to write these rememberances and share our memories and our sorrows. I haven't finished my blog about my father yet but it will be the third post about dads. I probably will never write one about your Nana as you might understand but I hope the one I finish about your Poppie will meet with your approval.
August 22, 2009 10:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Nothing you write need meet with my approval, Mom. You are your own person and have your own mind. You also have your own skills and talents which far surpass my own.
You do for you what feels right to you, and write on.
I love you any which way.
And respect you even more.
August 22, 2009 10:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
thank you
August 22, 2009 11:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're very welcome. And....thank YOU.
August 22, 2009 11:40 PM | Reply | Permalink