father-watching
faraway
triggered sweet by
memory plucked
from twinge of
heart at
husband whiskers
sprinkled in
the sink
father
slow transforming
out of sight
whisker white
a-creep through
long-time
beard of boyish
blondish-brown
sprouting
scraggled out from
ear and nose
and knuckle
round
eyes a-cave
and sunken deep
in shaded-over
cavities
for inward looking
more than
out
with no more
footballs
flung
about
and no more
children yanking
on the waking hours'
daggy trousers
for weeping
over old-time
music secret
in the dark
up with the
birds
down with
the sun
midlife
rush at last
a-hush and
calm in its
surrender
done
bones exposed
of parenthood
held frail a-clung
by gristle grey of
simple habits
coffee thick
and silky
run with
milk
and crispest
crusty bread
torn up
for dipping into
hearty stock
with olives
cheese and
ham on top
a drop
of something
oaky sipped
and languished
a-crawl with
thoughts of
father own
disintegrating
boyhood memories
coddled close
and satiating
with daughter
unbeknownst
father-watching
faraway
© 2017 Adelaide Heathfield
Feb 20, 2018
Feb 20, 2018 at 7:53 AM UTC
father-watching
faraway
triggered sweet by
memory plucked
from twinge of
heart at
husband whiskers
sprinkled in
the sink
father
slow transforming
out of sight
whisker white
a-creep through
long-time
beard of boyish
blondish-brown
sprouting
scraggled out from
ear and nose
and knuckle
round
eyes a-cave
and sunken deep
in shaded-over
cavities
for inward looking
more than
out
with no more
footballs
flung
about
and no more
children yanking
on the waking hours'
daggy trousers
for weeping
over old-time
music secret
in the dark
up with the
birds
down with
the sun
midlife
rush at last
a-hush and
calm in its
surrender
done
bones exposed
of parenthood
held frail a-clung
by gristle grey of
simple habits
coffee thick
and silky
run with
milk
and crispest
crusty bread
torn up
for dipping into
hearty stock
with olives
cheese and
ham on top
a drop
of something
oaky sipped
and languished
a-crawl with
thoughts of
father own
disintegrating
boyhood memories
coddled close
and satiating
with daughter
unbeknownst
father-watching
faraway
© 2017 Adelaide Heathfield
A man to whom one has looked up with reverence is especially treasured. His strength, his masculinity, his ability to protect those he loves. And as he ages his loved ones notice a softness creeping in, which only belies the softy they always knew he was inside.
But nevertheless it is poignant to watch—even from afar—as a great man begins to wither. Ever so slightly. But wither. In his body only, not his mind. But wither.
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