The house wasn’t as old as my father,
However some parts were starting to creak,
He detested outliving my mother,
And wanted a still house that didn’t speak.
His small bedroom window had a loose screw,
And it made a rattling sound day and night.
It made a sound whenever the wind blew,
He would call out her name , “Joan”, in fright.
I comforted him by reading Milton,
He would open his eyes and seemed at peace,
“ I am worried about that window son”
I smiled trying to put his mind at ease.
“ It is just that rattling old window dad,
It’s a sound you’ve heard many times before,
“You are so right”, he said, ”and I am glad”,
“You are my good son, my good son and more.”
“You are not worried about the window,”
“No”, he said “ I am ready to just fly”,
“I would like an apple before you go”
“I always loved the taste of apple pie.
As the night pranced along he passed away,
Even the wind ceased its endless dance,
Perhaps it understood in some strange way,
The death of greatness should be in silence.
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Author:
David Wakeling (
Offline) - Published: August 22nd, 2023 03:00
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 3
Offline)
Comments2
My comments on the poem "Dad and the creaky window” by David Wakeling
Your mother had passed away. Your father was living with the memories in the house. The rattling window made an unnerving sound. He would call out “in fright.” With the passage of our close ones, some fear sets in from the increased solitude or emptiness. You read Milton to him; Milton was a tragic poet. Milton wrote “Paradise Lost” and “Paradise Regained.” Upon hearing Milton being read to him, he seemed at peace. You comforted him in his last moments.“ “I am ready to just fly” : he had premonitions that the end was near. “I always loved the taste of apple pie.” “LOVED” is in the past tense. It could have been said in the present tense…
“Looks like a good night to fly.”
– One reddit user’s great Uncle (Gillybilly) (Was in the airforce in World War 2)
https://blog.funeralone.com/grief-and-healing/memorable-last-words/
“I am ready to just fly…”
Soman Ragavan. 22 August, 2023. //
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Thank you for your inspired comments.I'm not sure he liked Milton.I'm not sure I like Milton either.I think it was just the fact that I was reading to him towards the end that was a comfort.I like to think so anyway.Thanks again
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