Strangers

Strangers

A Poem by David Lewis Paget

‘We never had much in common,’ said
The man in the sailor hat,
‘He was the father, I was the son,
And that,’ he said, ‘was that!
We had some fun in my younger days
And he seemed to always care,
I grew, and we went our different ways
And I lost him then, out there.’

‘Why would you turn your back on him,’
I asked, and he shook his head,
‘Didn’t you think one day you’d blink
And your father would be dead?’
‘I didn’t believe it would cut me down,’
He said as he wiped a tear,
And leant his back on the headstone, 
‘I didn’t know that I’d meet him here.’

‘So what was that final argument
That made you get up and go?
I asked him once what had turned your head
And he said that he didn’t know.’
‘Neither do I, but he must have said
A word, and my temper flared,
A single thing with an inner sting
That said he had never cared.’

‘He always cared, I can tell you that,
From the time you could kick a ball,
He only had eyes for you, his son,
But surely, you can recall.’
I left him sat on the grave while I
Went off to brood on my own,
Then found that he’d scratched ‘I love you Dad,’
Too late, on that old headstone.

David Lewis Paget

© 2016 David Lewis Paget


My Review

Would you like to review this Poem?
Login | Register




Featured Review

the last sentence broke my heart into peices. and this part
"‘Why would you turn your back on him,’
I asked, and he shook his head,
‘Didn’t you think one day you’d blink
And your father would be dead?’
‘I didn’t believe it would cut me down,’
He said as he wiped a tear,
And leant his back on the headstone, 
‘I didn’t know that I’d meet him here.’" reminded of something similiar that happened to me.
such an important subject you wrote about, much relate!

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.




Reviews

‘Why would you turn your back on him,’
I asked, and he shook his head,
‘Didn’t you think one day you’d blink
And your father would be dead?’
‘I didn’t believe it would cut me down,
’Then found that he’d scratched ‘I love you Dad,’
Too late, on that old headstone."
An emotional write Sad but powerful. Too little too late.
A hard life lesson. There is an expression that my late mom
use to say. "Give me my flowers while i'm here, don't wait till i'm gone."
Very touching poem. Well written and expressed.

Posted 7 Years Ago


the last sentence broke my heart into peices. and this part
"‘Why would you turn your back on him,’
I asked, and he shook his head,
‘Didn’t you think one day you’d blink
And your father would be dead?’
‘I didn’t believe it would cut me down,’
He said as he wiped a tear,
And leant his back on the headstone, 
‘I didn’t know that I’d meet him here.’" reminded of something similiar that happened to me.
such an important subject you wrote about, much relate!

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

WOW.....one of your best. So deep and moving. luckily I had close relationships with both of my parents. I wish all kids today were fortunate enough to have both parents in their lives. Valentine

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

A great depiction of a father-son relationship. Great story David.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Just read this one again... It is SO utterly stunning and poignant. Thank you for sharing this spectacular piece of work with the world! .... Misty

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Fathers.... I had the same. It was too late for me also to say those things to my own father's headstone. This poem is very powerful. It is filled with soul and memories, which you laid out for as all to envision right through your very own eyes. Great writing..

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

I was moved to tears reading this poem. I love my father so much.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

A very touching and beautiful poem on relationships...Much appreciated.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

A powerful and sad tale written my friend. We learn too late. The love and the concern of the people near. I liked the ending. Thank you David for sharing the outstanding story in the poem.
Coyote

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Some say we are programmed to take over from the Father - perhaps it's an urge that manifests differently from man to man but I think there's a bit of Oedipus in us all to varying degrees - if we take it to an extreme then a fallout is bound to occur. The lucky ones see it for what it is - ancient, primal, archaic and get to build those bridges.
A moving piece, David. Well done my friend.

Posted 8 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


First Page first
Previous Page prev
1
Share This
Email
Facebook
Twitter
Request Read Request
Add to Library My Library
Subscribe Subscribe


Stats

1096 Views
15 Reviews
Rating
Shelved in 1 Library
Added on February 18, 2016
Last Updated on February 18, 2016
Tags: sailor, son, headstone, flared

Author

David Lewis Paget
David Lewis Paget

Moonta, South Australia, Australia



About
more..

Writing