Father's Father Poem by doug bentley

Father's Father

Rating: 5.0


my grandfather
on father's side

came from edinburgh.

i can only remember
a few things about him.

i, a child: he, old man
who lived in the basement.

tall, thin, proud to be
one ancestor removed

from a builder
of firth of forth bridge,

that structure still stands.
ancestor doesn't.

anyway,
at this juncture,

i won't deviate
from established pattern -

bore you
with a lot

of trivial details,
childhood memories

of a man
my father

called
my father.

but i do remember
one night deep in winter

when grandfather
went for a walk.

when he came back
he had a shine on his face

that felt like the glow
one gets from family blood

and, ever since then
i've been haunted

by images of a searing,
blinding bat wings enfolded,

hovering over my family

just waiting to devour
one more forgotten ancestor

Saturday, July 13, 2013
Topic(s) of this poem: father
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Kim Barney 16 December 2015

Delightful poem, Doug! I never had the pleasure (yet) of meeting my father's father, nor my mother's mother. I look forward to doing so one day. I especially liked the ending to the poem: and, ever since then i've been haunted by images of a searing, blinding bat wings enfolded, hovering over my family just waiting to devour one more forgotten ancestor Very well done.

0 0 Reply
Valsa George 03 August 2013

It is a delight going back to childhood memories! Those memories though fragmented they be, connect us to generations gone before! Enjoyed! !

0 0 Reply
Tirupathi Chandrupatla 13 July 2013

Father's Father is a poem of intimacy, respect, and love. Bridge still stands. I enjoyed the poem. Thank you.

0 0 Reply
Heather Wilkins 13 July 2013

a good read about ancestors. yes one leaves and another appears.

0 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
doug bentley

doug bentley

Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
Close
Error Success