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Tenderly

A strange but familiar warmth surprised me

While I was thumbing through

Some scarves and sweaters I'd never buy

One winter day when mom had sent us shopping.

Then I heard my father

Humming to himself

In rhythm with some old time jazz

Barely audible from the store's backroom



I turned and studied his wrinkles and his patched skin

For a moment before he turned from me.

The same face I'd seen so handsome once

Against the faded scarlet of photos

From Christmas nineteen sixty eight.

Was he really so much simpler then?

But it is awkward to ask,

And now I live so many miles away.



Then that sweet, sweet saxophone

Caught my ear again

And I heard him question

"The tune? The tune?"

"Tenderly" I answered under my breath

As I showed him the snow

Dancing down a glass globe

In a holiday scene encased for our pleasure.



"Yes" he said

Seeming pleased.

Growing young.

"Tenderly."

Author's Notes/Comments: 

One of a series of poems I wrote about my family.

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last updated 11 October 2010 - 9:06pm
©30 October 2002 - 10:20am — lioninwinter68
12 February 2004 - 6:45am — Karyn Indursky (not verified)
Karyn Indursky's picture

When I saw this title I believed this was an erotic poem, but I was surprised at the irony. This poem was anything, but sensual, steamy, erotic. It's family oriented, emotional, traditional, and full of jazz. I was in awe reading line to line about your memories and wonderings about the people closest, dearest to you. It's funny how one little observation or sound can set our minds spinning to memories. Keep writing. You're good at it.

23 May 2003 - 12:08am — poetvg
poetvg's picture

Lovely poem . :*).

16 November 2002 - 1:20am — Sarah (not verified)
Sarah's picture

I absolutely love this poem. I love the way it circles from the title to the end with the word tenderly. I thought that was really cool. I also love the way it contrasts the distance between father and son in the 1st & 2nd stanzas against their warm, fuzzy moment in the 3rd & 4th stanzas. That line -- 'But it is awkward to ask, And now I live so many miles away' -- I really felt the distance. You are standing right next to him yet so far away. The only gliche I had while reading was in the line 'For a moment before he turned from me.' For some reason it didn't flow from the line before it -- because of meter? It was fine the 2nd time I read it, but I had to stop and reread it the 1st time through.