Missing Him
December 21, 2006
Let’s work backwards:
First, I will miss him just sitting in his chair
content to smile as if he had no needs –
connected by spirit, happy to be.
I will miss the shuffle of his brave feet
planting the walker ahead like an ice axe;
climbing mountains we could not see.
I will miss him presiding above the fondue
a sorcerer in the candle light,
stirring up batches of yuletide glee.
I will miss him saying grace at the helm
from which he would love, work, and lead
a life of no regret – a life of family.
This is a re-post of a poem I wrote last Christmas about my father in law who had just passed away that October. A poem about the night he died is here:The night Joe left
qazse 
December 21, 2006 at 3:57 pm
the walker…like an ice axe.
This is a marvelous poem.
December 21, 2006 at 4:15 pm
I, too, liked “planting the walker ahead like an ice axe;/climbing mountains we could never see.”
Wonderful image of fragile age and a task that takes enormous strength and courage.
Thank you~
December 21, 2006 at 11:45 pm
BL and deb,
Thank you. I was also with him the night he died.
I wrote a poem about that experience as well. If you would care to read it: The night Joe left
December 22, 2006 at 1:32 am
Just a beautiful piece qazse. Exquisite!
December 22, 2006 at 1:46 am
thank you Bice! He worked for Kraft Foods his whole life. His wife stayed at home to raise a family of five. In his later years he could barely see hear or taste. When he quit barbershoppers I knew he had lost his zest for life. But when his family gathered he was like a happy man on the beach soaking up the sun.
December 22, 2006 at 3:49 am
Add my voice to the chorus: great poem…
Regards
December 22, 2006 at 8:04 am
Sorry for your losing the company of a Great and good man. All wizened men are sorcerers in their own right.
December 22, 2006 at 11:59 am
what a lovely tribute to a life well-lived. bravo.
WC
December 22, 2006 at 6:56 pm
fencer, tomachfive, and winterchick (sounds like a law firm) Thank you for the warm support.
PS – I know why fencer is fencer (he fences); but I am curious about the other names…
December 22, 2006 at 10:19 pm
qazse,
I am a writer and a woman – hence writer chick. actually it started out as a joke and when i started blogging it just sort of stuck.
WC
December 22, 2006 at 11:32 pm
makes perfect sense
December 22, 2006 at 11:34 pm
My real first name is Tom. I love that song from the Presidents of the United States, “Mach Five”. Putting them together, I found it having a sort of a good ring to it.
December 22, 2006 at 11:43 pm
I will have to listen to that song. Thanks!
December 29, 2006 at 12:23 pm
This poem is beautiful. Thank you
January 15, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Dear qasze,
Thank you so much for posting this.
My Great Aunt Theonella died years ago and I so miss her still. She is inside me. You have catalyzed my recognizing I need to write a poem!
Thank you!!
Kim