My Father was a Gardener
rhyming quatrains145 total reviews
Comment from CR Delport
I am a gardener, but I have to do all those things :) We live on a smallholding and grow our own vegetables, but unfortunately the weeding become quite tiresome once the rains start. I think it rains weed :) Another stunning poem.
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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I am a gardener, but I have to do all those things :) We live on a smallholding and grow our own vegetables, but unfortunately the weeding become quite tiresome once the rains start. I think it rains weed :) Another stunning poem.
Comment Written 23-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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I love freshly grown tomatoes :-) Thanks so much, CR. Brooke
Comment from Leineco
Although your poem never says it (and maybe it's just my own prejudice)
but I find myself smitten, by a man who did not bow down to the "socially
accepted" code of manicured lawn maintenance. My dad was like that too :-)
He was totally devoted to his job (and one of the many seeds he sowed was
take pride in what you do, and do it with all your attention) but once he pulled
his car into the driveway - it was all about family and "living". (luckily for him,
all 6 of us, boys and girls alike, were trained in the art of lawn mowing (LOL)
so he never had to hire the neighborhood kids ;-)
I like this quiet little ode to his natural embrace of nature :-)
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2014
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Although your poem never says it (and maybe it's just my own prejudice)
but I find myself smitten, by a man who did not bow down to the "socially
accepted" code of manicured lawn maintenance. My dad was like that too :-)
He was totally devoted to his job (and one of the many seeds he sowed was
take pride in what you do, and do it with all your attention) but once he pulled
his car into the driveway - it was all about family and "living". (luckily for him,
all 6 of us, boys and girls alike, were trained in the art of lawn mowing (LOL)
so he never had to hire the neighborhood kids ;-)
I like this quiet little ode to his natural embrace of nature :-)
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2014
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Leineco, thank you so very much :-) Yeah, my dad only had me, and he spoiled me rotten. Besides, girls did not do such chores back then :-) Brooke
Comment from Charlene0513
To adewpearl,
It is always nice to think back to the good ol' times. Contemplating all the while on everything that made your childhood special.
Enjambments with a nice flow therefore making for an enjoyable read.
Charlene
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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To adewpearl,
It is always nice to think back to the good ol' times. Contemplating all the while on everything that made your childhood special.
Enjambments with a nice flow therefore making for an enjoyable read.
Charlene
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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Charlene, thank you so much :-) Brooke
Comment from Warren Rodgers
What a wonderful with a terrific ending leaving me with the thought of "sowing memories"is beautiful. Your dad sounds like my kind of guy, my dad was the same way only he had me to mow lol! Your 8/7 with female end rhymes work very well and your rhymes and meter are spot on (I almost feel silly even mentioning that). I'm glad you have such good memories, so many seem to have the opposite experience with their fathers. A pleasure to read and review.
All the best,
Rodger
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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What a wonderful with a terrific ending leaving me with the thought of "sowing memories"is beautiful. Your dad sounds like my kind of guy, my dad was the same way only he had me to mow lol! Your 8/7 with female end rhymes work very well and your rhymes and meter are spot on (I almost feel silly even mentioning that). I'm glad you have such good memories, so many seem to have the opposite experience with their fathers. A pleasure to read and review.
All the best,
Rodger
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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Rodger, thank you so much for your generous and gracious response to this poem :-) It saddens me when I read fan story posts about bad fathers. When my mom died, I'm told some of my relatives feared he would be a clueless dad. Nobody worried he'd be abusive, just a fish out of water. He fooled them all. OK, so he never taught me how to cook or sew or clean, and my domestic skills still need some remediation, but other than that, he stepped up to the plate so very many times in so many ways :-) Brooke
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Yes, those stories and poems make me sad too. Your response says it very well, he stepped up to the plate so very many times. I wish more men would understand that you can't know all or be all to your kids when tragedy occurs but still you can be the one who finds someone or something to fill the gaps left behind. Thanks for sharing your story. :)
All the best,
Rodger
Comment from Just2Write
I remember a work of yours about your father's gardening strategies from some years back - so I was surprised to see a poem entitled 'My Father was a Gardener.' Once I opened it, the poem brought a smile to my face when I learned that his memory has not been altered over time. Good on you to keep spreading the word about those who love a lawn covered in dandelions, clover and daisies. Your dad was a hero to me.
Rose.
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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I remember a work of yours about your father's gardening strategies from some years back - so I was surprised to see a poem entitled 'My Father was a Gardener.' Once I opened it, the poem brought a smile to my face when I learned that his memory has not been altered over time. Good on you to keep spreading the word about those who love a lawn covered in dandelions, clover and daisies. Your dad was a hero to me.
Rose.
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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Rose, thank you so much - there are some themes I just feel compelled to revisit :-) Brooke
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Fine by me! Some folks don't have as long a memory as me, (though goodness knows, I'm forgetting more and more, lately) But, some things just stick with me. Your dad doing his gardening from his hammock is one of them. There's many newbies here at FS now, and your dad's story is worth re-telling to share with a new FS generation. :o)
Comment from Curly Girly
labour & savored are near rhymes.
This is really cheeky of me, but I think this would rhyme better:
for he knew toil and never shirked
one minute of his labour,
but time at home was set aside
for beauty he would savour.
?
What do you think?
I liked the poem and the other verses read well, with a warm, speedy and hearty cadence.
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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labour & savored are near rhymes.
This is really cheeky of me, but I think this would rhyme better:
for he knew toil and never shirked
one minute of his labour,
but time at home was set aside
for beauty he would savour.
?
What do you think?
I liked the poem and the other verses read well, with a warm, speedy and hearty cadence.
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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Curly Girly, thank you. I always appreciate feedback. I'll take a new look at that line :-) Brooke
Comment from LateBloomer
Hello adewpearl, Brooke, And now I now the reason(s) for your true love of the dandelion and flowers. It is the connection between the dandelion and other flowers and your dear father who knew what was important in life. I especially liked:
My father was a gardener
who did not do the growing,
but every memory I hold dear --
my father did the sowing.
(A beautiful memory and tribute to your father.)
And now I'll share my after-thought:
And so ...
Within the dandelion,
I see your smiling face.
Each smile is different
yet the same -- filled with love.
A poem of memories and love and family values to be cherished ~ forevermore.
Great artwork choice and silky rhyming. Keep the blue waters flowing. LateBloomer
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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Hello adewpearl, Brooke, And now I now the reason(s) for your true love of the dandelion and flowers. It is the connection between the dandelion and other flowers and your dear father who knew what was important in life. I especially liked:
My father was a gardener
who did not do the growing,
but every memory I hold dear --
my father did the sowing.
(A beautiful memory and tribute to your father.)
And now I'll share my after-thought:
And so ...
Within the dandelion,
I see your smiling face.
Each smile is different
yet the same -- filled with love.
A poem of memories and love and family values to be cherished ~ forevermore.
Great artwork choice and silky rhyming. Keep the blue waters flowing. LateBloomer
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 23-Sep-2014
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Thank you so much, LateBloomer
I very much appreciate your comments :-) Brooke
Comment from Giddy Nielsen-Sweep
Should be more of it! I find there are many little tiny treasures of exquisite colour lost amongst the weeds and grass which the mower mercilessly cuts away. Your poem is a good lesson in appreciating nature, Brooke, Giddy
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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Should be more of it! I find there are many little tiny treasures of exquisite colour lost amongst the weeds and grass which the mower mercilessly cuts away. Your poem is a good lesson in appreciating nature, Brooke, Giddy
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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Giddy, thank you so much :-) Brooke
Comment from Trybuck
With your Dad's philosophy
I tend to agree
All that gardening stuff
Just ain't for me
Long work days are really tough
and enough is enough
So days off are time to rest
from all the rush
Well done, as always, Buck
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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With your Dad's philosophy
I tend to agree
All that gardening stuff
Just ain't for me
Long work days are really tough
and enough is enough
So days off are time to rest
from all the rush
Well done, as always, Buck
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 22-Sep-2014
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Thanks so much, Buck for your good humor and fun rhyming :-) Brooke
Comment from krys123
Brooke;
as your father, my grandfather felt the same way when it came to flowers in the garden, where some people call weeds he called them my secret flower garden.
Just a very well composed piece of poetry where it's tempo and meter are written very well and where even your rhyming help treat your rhythmic flow which flowed smoothly throughout your writing.
Your writing's imagery was very descriptive and eloquently expressive throughout: "Is dandelion spread their goal, he offered no resistance, but welcome guests graced his lawn, requiring no assistance." this is what I meant about the secret Garden.
thank you for sharing and posting this for everyone to read and may the sun always shine on your shoulders.
Alex
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2014
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Brooke;
as your father, my grandfather felt the same way when it came to flowers in the garden, where some people call weeds he called them my secret flower garden.
Just a very well composed piece of poetry where it's tempo and meter are written very well and where even your rhyming help treat your rhythmic flow which flowed smoothly throughout your writing.
Your writing's imagery was very descriptive and eloquently expressive throughout: "Is dandelion spread their goal, he offered no resistance, but welcome guests graced his lawn, requiring no assistance." this is what I meant about the secret Garden.
thank you for sharing and posting this for everyone to read and may the sun always shine on your shoulders.
Alex
Comment Written 22-Sep-2014
reply by the author on 25-Sep-2014
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Alex, thank you so very much, my friend :-) Brooke
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You are so sincerely welcome my dearest friend and teach. Chuckle!
Alex
