At dVerse Frank is hosting the Haibun with an invitation to write about memory.
dVerse Poets – Haibun – Memory
Image by StockSnap from Pixabay
“My father took my hand and said, ‘Let’s go.'” Stephen Joseph Mitskavich
My Father’s Hands
My father’s hands are always with me. they were sometimes dark and sinister when riled, indifferent when preoccupied, and tender in my best memory. His hands were strong, at times too strong, a miner’s hands all dented and calloused, a boxer’s hands like steel, a gardeners hands covered in dirt. His hands were too big for fine work, instead he dug the yard, a quarter acre, all fruit and veg. He once lifted the back end of his ford while I changed the flat, I couldn’t argue with that.
My fondest memory lingers, a holiday at the seaside, a bucket and spade and sand castles. Walking in the water, walking home, my bucket in one hand, my other in his hand, the sun at our backs, adventure ahead. No matter the times of fear which came later, then he made the world right, the waves and paths, the people, all was well, we marched together and took the world. I can still feel those hands.
My father’s big hands
sometimes tender, mostly work
he was winter and sun.
Copyright 2023 ©️Paul Vincent Cannon All Rights Reserved ®️
parallax 
Wonderful tribute 💙
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This was beautiful! He probably literally broke his body working so hard. I know many men from that era who did. ❤
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He really did, later ill health, and dead at 60, .
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That’s why we have a shortage of “real’ men and heroes these days. It’s the road to a shortened life.
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Yes, so many of his peers went the same way.
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A beautiful tribute to your dad.
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Thank you very much Sadje
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You’re welcome
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Precious memories, Paul.
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Absolutely Lisa, thank you
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Love this!
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
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Thank you very much Cheryl
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A wonderful haibun memory, Paul. I love all the descriptions of your father’s hands. You describe this so well, I can feel like I am there following your down the beach.
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Thank you so much Dwight, yes, this is very precious to me – thank you.
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You are most welcome.
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A tender and touching haibun, Paul.
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Many thanks Kim, yes, from the heart indeed.
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This is such a moving tribute to your dad. The haibun form was perfect for it.
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I agree Liz, a good form for this, thank you very much.
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You’re welcome, Paul.
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A beautifully personal poem
>
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Yes, from the heart, thank you so much 🙂
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People – and parents – are so complicated! It’s good to have some special, beautiful memories in the mixture; it’s probably crucial.
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Yes, absolutely Rosemary, so agree and thank you very much.
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I love the contradictions expressed with those hands (both moon and sun)
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Ah, well spotted Bjorn, yes indeed and thank you.
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