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."
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.
Lovely poem . :*).
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.