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Chuck's avatar

After i packed away my little league glove,

We were two strangers

living in the same house.

Work, $, smokin',drinkin',

& a stroke or two,

vs. drugs and girls

& trying to grow up #2 of 4.

we both did our own thing.

trying a run with no real plan,

We collide at church.

Thru pleading tears of,

I guess, frustration,

at the walls that had grown up,

with no clue how to start tearing them down,

dad proclaims:

"I'd tear out my eyes and give them to you, if that would make things better".

Weird, I thought.

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Jillian Joy's avatar

This is so powerful, real, and raw. I really appreciate you sharing this, Chuck, thank you. Life has these moments as it does other joyful or clearer occasions. No apologies necessary, that's such a compelling memory on the prompt! <3

I can also relate to this core conflict of "walls that had grown up / with no clue how to start tearing them down" in my own father dynamic <3 These days, I try to move with compassion for that, because I hardly have an answer, at least yet. Much love this Father's Day!

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

This is quite lovely, Chuck, and a story rich and powerful on this Father's Day. Peace be with you.

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

This story resonates quite vividly with me. And for so many of us on this Father's Day. Dick Lourie has a splendid poem "How do we Forigve our Fatherrs," spoken wonderfully, by the character Thomas at the end of the movie "Smoke Signals."

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

Chuck, this is an amazing and beautiful poem! And what makes it so beautiful to me are the same words Jillian used, because it is powerful, real and raw! There is also this wonderful tension in here between vulnerability and strength. Love it!

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Chuck's avatar

(sorry, that scene, probably 50 years old, jumped first & vivid into my head from your prompt, fingers got away from me)

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A. Wilder Westgate's avatar

A poem for my husband, today:

Like the ocean

I long to get lost in,

where I find myself

.

Like the sky

without limit,

without pretense

.

Like sadness

teaching me patience,

teaching me kindness

.

Your eyes are breathless blue,

reflecting back my love for you.

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Chuck's avatar

Breathless blue.🙂

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

What a beautiful tribute, love poem, reflection. Very touching.

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

This is truly beautiful, A. What a true love ❤️ poem! Happy Father’s Day to your husband!

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

What a wonderful prompt. I also tend to communicate with the eyes, always congnizant of those people, cultures and identities that do not customarily do so, or for whom doing so has become threatening or unsafe. Certainly eyes can be wonderful vehicles for the language of love, and for our wide emotional spectrum. Looking at you all today.

Eyes

Long after you have gone,

I remember your eyes,

splendid and dark

summoning arc of gentle commitment.

Rich with hope, alive with truth,

invitation to rest,

for a moment,

for a spell,

for a lifetime.

Poetry in place,

your eyes tell a story,

beckon me to enter,

become a part,

of sheer wildness

and ecstatic wonder.

Passage to your soul,

tunnel of love,

beacon of light,

shining across

the misty water.

Even in the deafening silence

Your eyes tell me

all

I need to know.

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

I love you poems Larry! There is this beautiful and deep sweetness that runs through them. Expressions of love.

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

This one is exquisite! "your eyes tell a story, beckon me to enter, become a part, of sheer wildness and ecstatic wonder" SO amazing when we are with someone where our eyes tell it all without words. Beautifully done here with words!

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Steven Barbery's avatar

eyes

they have always

reveal so much

to me when

I look at others

to be more specific

people that I notice

regretfully

it is easy to get

caught up with life

and not see people

with our own eyes

the windows to the soul

giving so much away

telling a the world

of joy and pain

and for those

lucky enough

love for someone

for those of us

unfortunate enough

disappointment in those

same eyes

babies, toddlers, children

show their awe

for the world

in those eyes

a pure honesty

and amazement

that life causes us

to hide behind

shades and masks

but the stronger

the feelings

the less likely to hide

we can choose to see

and we can choose

avoid being seen

by downward gaze

they can show

our love and

can see with compassion

they can roll at

the outrageous and

they can glare and stare

signaling disgust and hatred

what do you use

your eyes for

most often?

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

Related to this, all the ways we see or not see for that matter. How we hide and how we let others in. Wonderful! "It is easy to get caught up with life and not see people with our own eyes." Great line, and so indicative of our times right now!

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Chuck's avatar

My daughter would roll her eyes when she had had enough of me. Drove me abosolutely crazy nuts.

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

Five years ago I had a profound dream that to this day has left a deep impact in my life. It was about eyes. After the dream, everywhere I looked there were eyes. A very sacred and intensely vulnerable experience. Lasting a few days... This poem is in honor of that dream

.

Everywhere eyes.

Sacred apertures, gateways into existence.

Not looking, but seeing,

not observing, but intimate.

Everywhere eyes.

Each crevice found in tree bark.

Pores in every leaf opening and closing.

The fiery ball that arcs across the skies.

Within the numerous shadows upon the Moon.

Countless stars blinking through the night.

Everywhere eyes.

I gaze into your various doorways,

portals to our precious souls.

Orbs that speak of many tales and stories.

Both of hardship and woe, wonders and beauty.

Intermingling vulnerabilities across teeny and vast spaces.

Everywhere eyes.

Sacred apertures into existence.

Not looking, but seeing,

not observing, but intimate.

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

This is a remarkable poem, Julie. Thank you for sharing your poerful dream, your vision. I love the term "everywhere eyes." And the term "sacred apertures..." This poem has so much depth, and is integrating multiple dimensions and levels. A very beautiful work of art!

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Julie Schmidt's avatar

Thanks Larry. appreciate it!

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Larry Brickner-Wood's avatar

This is absolutely, lovely and beautiful, Jillian. Your words flow and the imagery is so rich and full, and the tenderness and understanding in each line tell a marvelous story of connection and love. I really love your poems, and this one stays with me in my heart always.

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