Thank you, with Some Regrets
An adult son's posthumous letter to his father20 total reviews
Comment from Bracken
Love this and can relate to the non-physical trauma. However, for me, the last verse says it all. I think this poem could be more powerful if it was cut back. Maybe it is a first draft if so I apologise! I think I can't post a poem yet as I have only just joined, I have one about my father and what I see as his emotional bankruptcy. I would like a comment when /if I get to post it
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Love this and can relate to the non-physical trauma. However, for me, the last verse says it all. I think this poem could be more powerful if it was cut back. Maybe it is a first draft if so I apologise! I think I can't post a poem yet as I have only just joined, I have one about my father and what I see as his emotional bankruptcy. I would like a comment when /if I get to post it
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 23-Jul-2013
Comment from Loyd C. Taylor, Sr
Hello there good Poet and a wonderful Tuesday evening to you!
What a great poem with such a powerful message.
I am so honored to have you use my phot, thank you so much!
I wish you the best in your work, Loyd
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2010
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Hello there good Poet and a wonderful Tuesday evening to you!
What a great poem with such a powerful message.
I am so honored to have you use my phot, thank you so much!
I wish you the best in your work, Loyd
Comment Written 10-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 12-Aug-2010
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Hi Loyd, Thanks so much for the wonderful review and very kind word. It was an honor to use your very expressive photo. I was torn between chosing two photos - and the other one also happened to be one of yours. Keep up the great work. Bill
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Thank you Bill and you are very welcome, I am happy you used it. Good luck, Loyd
Comment from RKagan
Your relationship with your father sounds very sad. But it seems to me that you see it clearly for what it is and you have gone past the pain to a much better place. This poem is honest and well written
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2010
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Your relationship with your father sounds very sad. But it seems to me that you see it clearly for what it is and you have gone past the pain to a much better place. This poem is honest and well written
Comment Written 07-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2010
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Thank you very much for the kind review.
Comment from Belinda
Through your free verse I can imagine what kind of a father your father was in the past. It is so inconvenient, even heart breaking, to have someone to love who we cannot love, as love is reciprocal. He was there to discipline, not to love. The part that touches me most is when you say he was very protective, as he was the only one that was allowed to hurt you. To live in fear, not knowing when he is happy or not, is unfair for a child. Very interesting, though sad.
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2010
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Through your free verse I can imagine what kind of a father your father was in the past. It is so inconvenient, even heart breaking, to have someone to love who we cannot love, as love is reciprocal. He was there to discipline, not to love. The part that touches me most is when you say he was very protective, as he was the only one that was allowed to hurt you. To live in fear, not knowing when he is happy or not, is unfair for a child. Very interesting, though sad.
Comment Written 07-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 09-Aug-2010
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Thank you very much for the kind review and comments.
Comment from Suzie Q
Amazing. I feel like I just read the most poignant, heartfelt letter. It had me from beginning to end. I'm so sorry for the inspiration behind it. I have to mention a few lines that really stood out for me. " For your own sake, I hope you never knew what you were missing." Also, "There are no splints to repair broken spirits". Perfectly said. I was gonna make another comment but it's not necessary. You said it yourself at the end. He taught you how not to be. Now YOUR children are blessed as a result. May God bless you in return.
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Amazing. I feel like I just read the most poignant, heartfelt letter. It had me from beginning to end. I'm so sorry for the inspiration behind it. I have to mention a few lines that really stood out for me. " For your own sake, I hope you never knew what you were missing." Also, "There are no splints to repair broken spirits". Perfectly said. I was gonna make another comment but it's not necessary. You said it yourself at the end. He taught you how not to be. Now YOUR children are blessed as a result. May God bless you in return.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Suzie Q, thanks so much for the wonderful review. I am truly touched by your very kind words. Regards, Bill
Comment from dorts
The poem is so poignant. I cannot imagine having a father who hurt his children in such an angry way. The memories that my children have of their dad are happy ones. We often talk about what he had taught them, and it was all with understanding and love. He taught them that you learn by your mistakes, and respect other people. They miss him so much.
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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The poem is so poignant. I cannot imagine having a father who hurt his children in such an angry way. The memories that my children have of their dad are happy ones. We often talk about what he had taught them, and it was all with understanding and love. He taught them that you learn by your mistakes, and respect other people. They miss him so much.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Thank you very much for the very kind review. I am so sorry about the passing of your husband. There is no greater tribute to a person, than to be remembered the way your children remember their father. I am sure you are very proud of them all. Bill
Comment from juliaSjames
This is a sad and yet hopeful poem. So many persons tend to become stuck in subconscious patterns learned in childhood which they then pass on to their own children. What I call the "sins of the fathers" syndrome. This poem shows that a child can find redemption through extending forgiveness and love to a parent who probably thought he was doing the right thing because that is how he had been brought up. If your words in the last stanza reach the heart of even one reader who is stuck in such a pattern, then your work has been done.
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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This is a sad and yet hopeful poem. So many persons tend to become stuck in subconscious patterns learned in childhood which they then pass on to their own children. What I call the "sins of the fathers" syndrome. This poem shows that a child can find redemption through extending forgiveness and love to a parent who probably thought he was doing the right thing because that is how he had been brought up. If your words in the last stanza reach the heart of even one reader who is stuck in such a pattern, then your work has been done.
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Thanks so much for the wonderful review and insightful comments.
You are so right about the sins of the father, and I was determined to break that pattern. Thanks again. Bill
Comment from katz meow
Hey Bill,
What a sad, gut-wrenching story. And I, unfortunately, can identify with it. Except I was the only one of 8 siblings to be abused by my mother. Now she died a little over a year ago and I still grieve her passing. Go figure! Well, love your poem. You put on paper what most suffer in silence about. Well written poem my friend. katz
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Hey Bill,
What a sad, gut-wrenching story. And I, unfortunately, can identify with it. Except I was the only one of 8 siblings to be abused by my mother. Now she died a little over a year ago and I still grieve her passing. Go figure! Well, love your poem. You put on paper what most suffer in silence about. Well written poem my friend. katz
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Katz, thanks so much for the very kind review. I am so sorry you also suffered at the hands of your mother. I know what you mean about your mom's passing. My father died 22 years ago and I was devastated, at the time. As you said, go figure. Thanks again for reviewing my work. Regards, Bill
Comment from adewpearl
there are no splints to repair broken spirits - a powerful image, Bill
It grieves me to know so many parents are like the father in this poem - men and women who make their children cower in their presence - you are so right that they missed out on such a great experience of parenthood and joyful love in being this way
How life affirming that the speaker is not left with bitterness but a lesson learned in how to raise and treat his children. Brooke
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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there are no splints to repair broken spirits - a powerful image, Bill
It grieves me to know so many parents are like the father in this poem - men and women who make their children cower in their presence - you are so right that they missed out on such a great experience of parenthood and joyful love in being this way
How life affirming that the speaker is not left with bitterness but a lesson learned in how to raise and treat his children. Brooke
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Hi Brooke, thanks so much for the wonderful review. The kind words and insightful comments are greatly appreciated. Bill
Comment from ulster3
Hello Banafish.
If this is a first foray into free verse you must be a natural. This is a wonderful write with well chosen words in all the right places. It has good flow. It is about a heartfelt topic, and time does pass. Thanks for sharing.
Fondly, Rebecca
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Hello Banafish.
If this is a first foray into free verse you must be a natural. This is a wonderful write with well chosen words in all the right places. It has good flow. It is about a heartfelt topic, and time does pass. Thanks for sharing.
Fondly, Rebecca
Comment Written 06-Aug-2010
reply by the author on 06-Aug-2010
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Hi Rebecca, thank you very much for the very kind words and review. Regards, Bill
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You did great with this. I like it much, Bill.
