I glimpse a flailing hand
Through the doorway
and approach, calm as a cucumber
Still in its skin-tight wrapper
I see, my father shaking all over
Like a dying fish, grasping ~ flopping
Despairingly, trying to get up
I get closer, he notices me
And he starts whispering
in a shaky voice, such a small voice
He thinks this is it, keeps mumbling
Something has gone terribly wrong
I annunciate and demonstrate
Taking long deep breaths
In …….. Out ….. In ………. Out ….. In
Offer him my hands, he clings-on
And as he pulls, I plant my weight
Let him use me, as dead weight
His eyes are wide, his mumbling
Stemmed
Floating like he was my mother’s
Weight
He rises from the bed like a vampire
From a coffin
‘‘that’s it!’’ I encourage
Two steps back, I take
Two steps forward, he shuffles
And on
Inch by inch, we arrive
At our holly grail, just in time
Flick on toilet lights
and he stumbles on, defiant
brushing me aside
like always.
I walk away, for now
My eyes are as dead
As my frozen heart
His eyes, even now
Still, full of despise
No blames attached
A loving father, once
A screw up, kid
Forever
Just playing the hands
They were dealt
Waiting to see, what that river
card, Will bring
Waiting to see, who’ll be first
Down that 6ft ‘great perhaps’
Such is life…
And on, we soldier on
‘Fight, fight’
I recite those famous Dylan lines
In my head, alone
‘Fight, against this dimming light
Do not go gently, do not go quite!’
Fight old man, and
you as well, Fight
oh father of mine!
© L. B. Mek
July 2022
-
Author:
L. B. Mek (
Offline) - Published: July 29th, 2022 01:44
- Comment from author about the poem: 'Do not go gently into that good night' by Dylan Thomas ( https://mypoeticside.com/show-classic-poem-30915 )
- Category: Unclassified
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- Users favorite of this poem: dusk arising, Fay Slimm..
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Comments9
To write that i was moved by this piece is such an understatement.
So many coincidences with my own actual experiences came at me with jolting shock upon shock. My dear old angry pap actually passed away on the loo giving rise to our ribald "he passed away straing over a stool" which would have suited his humour in lighter moments. Disappointing son, tell me about it.
For so many reasons, not least the excellent style of this writing, this has to be among my favourites where i know It will shock me time and again.
We all imagine, we're so different from each other
but our experiences insure we're all, just
dogpaddling in that melting pot of life..
really appreciate you sharing such intimate
and personal details, Dusk
just reading your words
helped ease the vulnerability I feel
when reading my own scribble
humbly, I thank you!
An unforgettable pathos in this very compelling write L.B. - - this one must go to my favourite list.
yeah well, its crazy
how much harder this snapshots of real life
can be to write, I always assumed
the fictional or imaginative stuff was harder
but, its like the ink gets thicker and each syllable
comes after wading through a quicksand
pooling, of breath stealing raw feelings..
(really appreciate you reading and supporting
dear Fay
makes it worthwhile to know Poet's of your calibre
can relate)
takes the edge off the unfair bitterness of it all!
reinforces my choice, to fight
thank you! 🙂😎💪
and-on, we trudge on!
Wow, this was like a page out of my life not too long ago. It brought back a flood of memories and feelings. “Just playing the hands They were dealt.” I loved it.
I'm sorry, that you too
experienced something similar
but it's reassuring that you seem to be
in a better place now..
thank you! for gifting me, such encouraging words
dear Poet
That must have been a terrible time. I attended several deaths in the family but was not present for my father's. I could just imagine the the conflicting emotions as if I was there. We took care of an ailing father-in-law for over three years until he passed on. That was an epic effort of a season and we all came out of it changed. Thanks for sharing.
you too, thank you for trusting me with such intimate
details..
I can't imagine how hard it must have been, I'm sorry for your loss
may they all rest in peace..
as they say, 'what doesn't break us, insures we get stronger'..
or at least, we hope - so!
thank you! kind Poet
At least Nietzsche professes so!
4 more comments
This one strikes to the heart. So familiar, even if the exact circumstances are not. It holds a common theme to life and family relationship. In this we may all take the roll of father or son, by themselves or simultaneously. A great write
yeah, it pulls on such common experiences
but until I went through something similar
I would have never thought to write about it
just glad, you related and chose to empathise
dear Poet, thank you!
Upon my first visit and reading, I could not help but wonder whether these words were a long time in the making ..
Maybe started way back & tinkered and touched up over time .. I can not explain why I should think so ..
Maybe I am wrong and maybe you could enlighten me ..
They nevertheless collectively comprised a most highly regarded and well respected lament indeed
Kudos brother Mek .......... Neville
I scribbled these words over a sleepless night
a week or so ago, the night of the incident..
but the details, have been writing themselves
my whole adult life...
(you read me too well, Hyung) thank you!
Well done, L.B.
The turn card was a doozie.
I envy the 'river rats' of the world...
lol
thank you Jerry, kind friend
always here
for the important scribbles
always! you humble me
Kind of reminded me of Waiting for Godot - Vladimir and Estragon - well done!
if only! still
I'm humbled you would make such a reference
thank you! dear poet
My pleasure.
Wonderful emotive words Mek.
Andy
thank you! Andy
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