Work Gloves

Commitments keep my friend

away from his children-

many times for days

or weeks on end. He confides

I do not think I can say

I am a great father; I wish

I could do better. We share

an afternoon chat and cup

of tea. We share a silence

based in mutual fears

of inadequacy. Of days

passed wondering if we

are doing the right thing;

of nights spent waiting

by telephones in cheap

motel rooms. I tell him,

finally, the only thing

I can think to say- that we

are all called first as God’s

children, and second as

partners and parents.

I tell him: there are 1000

different ways, to be a great

father and good man. I tell

him, maybe you cannot always

lead by presence, but you

always shine a light

of example. I see your

son watching you, trying

on your work gloves, the

ones that pull people

out of danger and hold

strangers in their worst

moments- and he wonders

if his hands, too

will ever fit into them.

Reviews

[bob, small b. aka invs]

this is a profound piece of writing. i think we all second guess ourselves, wondering if we are doing right, especially concerning our kids. i don't know how you ever decide. maybe when our kids are grown THEY will decide if we did right by them. but even then, it's possible you did right for the world or society, even if you failed your kids in some ways. i think you just have to follow your inner compass and hope it doesn't take you too far astray.

[Marie Anzalone]

I think that anyone who claims to have figured out exactly how to parent children, is ignoring the other 999 ways to do it. I think we all fail our families in some way, no matter how good we try to be. I honestly think that the example we set of how to live in a world of conflicting values and commitments, can speak more loudly than any words ever could. Thank you for stopping by today- I appreciated seeing your face again and seeing your words on one of my pieces. Hugs from down south.

[charlie]

They say that a child's biggest influence is the parent of the same sex, and no less is the impression in this poem. Like your 'blame' poem, this also reads effortlessly and similarly impressive. You write so well; so naturally.

[Stephanie M]

I imagine that it is difficult to be away from your children for extended periods of time. I believe that you can make up for that absence, by instilling values in your children, and showing them that you love them. Children emulate, and look up to their parents. I especially liked the last couple lines of your poem. The boy wonders if he will grow up to be just like his father. Nicely written.

[Gee]

What a man, and there are many like him, who sacrifice family life for the good of others. To help those less fortunate, those hit by disaster. Me, I'm far to selfish, and this an embarrassing, ego bashing thing to admit, but the truth.
This is a wonderful piece of writing about a wonderful man

[Marie Anzalone]

Thank you, Gee. We were asked to write a few lines for our city's volunteer firefighters, who have been all pulling double duty to do search and rescue and recovery efforts for the volcano relief efforts 2 hours away. We brought them lunch and read our works for them and listened to their stories, on Father's Day.