Dad

On By Renee Yann, RSMIn Faith, Love, Poetry

March 22nd is the 39th anniversary of my Dad’s death.

I wanted to share this poem with you all because I believe even the darkest times come back to the Light.  It’s a good time to remember that.

The Call

The deepest groan
sound ever tore from me
was on the day
my father died.

My brother’s voice
ran through the telephone
in liquid sorrow,
like a strong willow weeping,
holding roots down deep,
but spilling over tenderly
at fragile edges.

With his brave and wounded summons,
a primal broken cry
escaped from me
without my willing it.
It welled up, ebony and viscous,
from the center of my being,
molten, from a fissure
in the rock where I am rooted.
At that moment,
I am certain of it,
my father’s spirit separated
from the earth, or went
down invisible to join it.

When I finally came to him,
through a long journey,
a failing warmth from his blue skin
was all that met me,
and the blue memories waving
in a somnolent field
over his lifeless body,
that I picked, one by one,
like flowers in the silence.

blue flowers

That bouquet is preserved
in my soul as in a white
glass vase.  I bring it out
for blessing rites upon
things my father would have blessed
had he not died.

The benediction of these flowers
has fallen now for years
on all the lovely, growing
things in family, in self,
and slowly, over years, they’ve
turned from blue to all the colors
they once were in his heart,
like rainbows
or glass the deeper stained
by setting sun.

Some beautiful music: Mi Mancherai

Always thanking God for you, Dad.

 

19 thoughts on “Dad”

  1. Cynthia

    This was a beautiful tribute. My Papi was gone 8 years Wednesday. I miss him so. Thank you Sister Renee. I am sharing this with my siblings. They will appreciate it.

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  6. Georgia

    As always, Renee, you are the voice of and have the words for so many of us…I am still blessed to have my father, but someday, that unimaginable loss will be mine too – God willing, I will have a fraction of the grace, wisdom, and articulate ness as you…send8ng my best to you and appreciate you reminding us all of all that even darkness’s comes to the light in these times…Georgia

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  9. Ann Marie Lynskey

    You have a beautiful way of making things so real. As I read your words about your brother’s phone call I was taken back to the call I received about my mother’s and sister’s deaths. Even 24 years later I felt that “liquid sorrow” all over again. Thanks for this and all your beautiful writings.

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  10. Sue Worthington

    Having lost my Dad 15 years ago, Mom 10 years ago, and my husband 21 years ago on Holy Saturday night, your words echo all the words of our hearts as they do so often.
    May God in His Mercy help all our bouquets to turn into the rainbows of His promises of Love Eternal.

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