it's a dad poem

it's a dad poem

it's a dad poem

get me the wrench

in the tool closet,

he would say to me

I would search hours for the elusive

gadget

I would scream to myself

cry tears from behind my eyes

that would fall on my heart

I let him down, I let him down

I went to him empty handed

empty-hearted

a bad ending to a dad poem

a last line of disappointment

a son who cannot find the obvious

only some hidden meaning

behind a metaphor

of a stupid poem

but this

it's a dad poem

I can't make him proud

a silly wrench

twists my insides

like I was just a nut and bolt

of idiocy

and then I hear him laugh

and remark

"oh yes, I left it in the garage

yesterday when I was working on the lawn mower"

it had cut me to the quick

but now like young blade of grass

after a cutting,

I rose again to greet the sun

a son,

who was able

to find a more suitable ending

for his dad poem

erin-cilberto

3/10/22

Reviews

[Gee]

I guess you never miss what you never had...me and a life without a father.
Must be tons more happy not sad memories Jacob which is why your heart will always ache( for them both)
Hope you are well :)

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, always will....and I am so sorry you lived your life without a father....to miss that love is excrutiating, I am sure.
j.

[Gee]

Thank you Jacob :)

[Fabian G. Franklin]

"a nut and bolt of idiocy" That was simply brilliant! I know so well the feelings expressed in this too. My own dad had a good sized shop to house his extensive collection of tools. All of my own fit in four tool boxes. But I learned so much from watching him. My older brother always wanted to run away and escape from dad's company ( it was purely an act of wanting to be with his friends) but I always wanted to stay, watch and ask questions. I think it drew my dad and I closer than all my siblings. Great poem.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Yes, we can learn so much from our fathers...I just tried to acquire his best traits...
thank you,
j.

[Writergurl]

such a emotional and touching read, nicely written

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you, writergurl,
j.

[Chris Shaw]

This poem left a lump in my throat. A sensitive young boy who felt he wasn't living up to his Dad's expectations and maybe a Dad who didn't appreciate the sensitive side of his son. I'm an adult and wouldn't know what a wrench looks like at my age. We are all different and our interests and talents are varied. I think your Dad would be very proud of his college professor son and what he has achieved. Touching poem J.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

He let me know that in his last years, Chris....it felt good...
thank you for your understanding words,
j.

[Lisasview]

Okay, okay dreams can be so powerful... right..
Sometimes we awake with our dreams not finished.. Sometimes we go back for a minute or more to finish our upsetting dream..and hope to make it right...
I cried when I read your poem... my heart hurt...I know that awful feeling..I could feel what you were saying... so terrible to feel that your Dad (parent) would be disappointed in you for not finding the silly wrench...and, then what a relief that it was your Dad that misplaced it...
Although it made me cry I reread your poem aloud to my husband...
love so many lines... like a young blade of grass....
You always use such great metaphors..
Still teary eyes, Lisa

[jacob erin-cilberto]

thank you for sharing this with your husband...that is kind of you,
j.

[Lisasview]

Hi Jacob,
I knew he would like this poem...
L