My youngest son gave me a poem about the day we spread Dad's ashes in San Francisco Bay and I thought that I would honor him today with his grandson's poem.
THE SPREADING
As we wait on a wall of sea breeze,
pelicans fly in formation above the water,
and mother remembers that, when in Aptos,
they called these pelicans The Mafia.
All the while, families wait with guarded cargo,
wait, squinting through the blanched acrylic windows.
at the bridge that paints a ruddy-orange matrix,
stroked against the grey morning sky, and
carnations in hand to shed as stirring crops,
we shore up our own exact, tender words
-flowers with which the barren is faced-
as we wait on a wall of sea breeze,
to release his "request" into the water;
a fixture of colors in the many-eyed sea,
like trillions of glimmering peacock feathers.
A bodily belonging on the slopes of the bay.
What a wonderful tribute to your father. It doesn't matter how old you are it is hard to let go of your parents. For so many years they take care of and love us. Eventually that role is reversed to where we are the ones in charge of the care giving and we love them.
ReplyDeleteI still have my mother's ashes, she made it clear that she wanted me to care for her ashes. I have decided that since that is what she wanted her ashes will be buried with me.
I found this quote not long after my mother died. I printed and framed it and look at it every day.... and nod my head in agreement.
"Hold dear to your parents
For it is a
Scary and Confusing world
Without them.
~Emily Dickerson
Big hugs my friend..........
This is a great tribute to your Dad.
ReplyDeleteI was visiting Jo's site when I read about your Dad.
My ouwn Dad passed away in Aug 1984,My Mom went to join him in Sept.2003. I still miss them to this day. My God always confort you,Hold you in his hands,anguide you the rest of your life.
I can feel it. My thoughts are with you.
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