December 18, 2010

  • Creative writing this semester

    My poetry submission this week for my creative writing class and my peer reviews.

     

    Posted by ann kraeger Thu Dec 16 13:47:58 2010.
    Reply:
    PAPA
    Separated….
    yet I still see you.
    in fits and starts
    glimpses like the frames of an old movie.

    In the kitchen in Verona….
    drinking a beer
    kneeding a pizza dough
    sashaying to a sweet jazz riff.

    Separated….
    yet I still smell you.
    in whiffs and puffs
    like walking past a row of sweet shops.

    In the living room of the old house….
    Barbasol on your cheek
    pipe tobacco scented with apples
    motor oil and wood shavings on your hands.

    Separated…..
    yet I still hear you.
    in whispers and snatches
    like overhearing the conversations of other.

    In the places in my mind….
    “Men are basically evil”
    “Is he going to help you get to heaven”
    “I love you baby”

    This poem was written about my father who is dying of cancer. It describes images and bits of memories that exist in my mind of him from my growing up years. Sometimes these memories are simply thoughts and sometimes they are as real as scents that I truly believe I can smell. Still other times I can close my eyes and actually see my father in the various places that we have been together. The words that he has spoken to me are as real to me and his voice as close as it was when he actually spoke those phrases to me. What I hope to convey with this poem was a sense of peace for myself first and foremost and then I wished to establish a concrete chronicle of him that can be passes on to my children and my grandchildren.
    .

    ADDED SUBTHREADS

    Posted by Hiram Mariner Thu Dec 16 18:06:34 2010
    Thread: Ann,

    I love this for its great imagery. Just wonderful, I feel like I am there absorbing the sights, sounds and smells. It is extremely personal though, and I see it as a phenomenal gift to the family. It would be so wonderful printed, framed and hung in a very special place. It deserves to be read by those that know your father best and then those that should have known him.

    Posted by Suz-Anne Miller Sat Dec 18 14:32:04 2010
    Thread: I agree with Hiram. I love your imagery. I also feel the sense that although you love this man and have to deal with the separation you manage to enjoy the good memories without languishing in the sorrowful ones. Simply excellent.

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