Always in memory

by Brenda   Mar 21, 2016


My dad died in a helicopter accident when I was 7 yrs old when we were living in Alaska. I miss him every day.-

Daddy were you cold
laying upon that mountainside?
Or did you lay in a patch
of forget-me-nots
with clouds drifting by?
Was death kind to you-
allowing a peaceful end-
or was it violent, and raw,
snatching your life away?
I hold such fascination
to the winged creature that took
your life.
marvel at its raw power-
the way it claws at the sky.
I think of you...
so full of promise and life
and of forget-me-nots
and mountainsides....

4


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Latest Comments

  • 8 years ago

    by Em

    Hi Brenda,

    I can see your 7 year old self next to you now asking these unanswered question because as life as gone on it's been hard. You have dealt with it but in your own way, it's never easy to deal with someone's passing especially one that's so close.

    I can feel the raw emotion in this piece and it brought a tear to my eye. Living with this everyday must have been so difficult but it's made you grow as a person and more than likely as a writer.

    Take care, Em

  • 8 years ago

    by Dagmar Wilson

    This is very emotional and it wasn't easy to write this poem. But you did and thank you for sharing. I was devastating for you and your family and the way he passed away but I am sure he is with you every day and every step of the way. Take care

    • 8 years ago

      by Brenda

      Thank you so much! It was a hard write, I do miss him every day. It's weird to think of him being gone longer than he was when he died. I do truly believe he's always been with me, I have felt his presence a time or two. As a child I just knew I missed him terribly, it wasn't until I was an adult with children of my own and reached that age did it really hit me how hard this must have been on my mom in those days. She was truly amazing! Still is! She showed me what true strength really is. Thank you again! Brenda

  • 8 years ago

    by Ben Pickard

    Brenda

    This poem put a firm lump in my throat and is as emotional a poem that I have read on this site.
    I can understand that this is something that you must live with everyday and the images that you create in this are vivid and hard to read; goodness knows how hard they must have been to write.
    It isn't for me to say, and I'm sure you have been told the same many times through the years, but it was almost certainly a quick passing, although I understand how little comfort that would bring to anyone. It must have been awful for you and your family.
    However, I bet he would be proud of his girl for being able to convey her emotions in such a moving and emotional way.

    Stay well, Brenda and all the best
    Ben

    • 8 years ago

      by Brenda

      Thank you so much! Your words about my poem mean a lot to me. It took a lot of years of unanswered questions to learn how to deal with his passing. I can still can see when his co-workers from the place he worked came to our house with the news, it's as vivid as a newsreel. He was such a good man, I always wondered what he would have been like as he aged. Thank you again. Brenda

  • 8 years ago

    by Brenda

    Michael, thank you so much! Yes, it was a hard poem to write, a lot of emotions ran through me during this. I did invoke my 7 yr old self to bring back all those feelings. I always hold on to the hope that his death was quick. Thanks again! Brenda

  • 8 years ago

    by Mr. Darcy

    Hello Brenda,

    This poem is close to you. The subject matter so personal that summing up the way you feel in words, must have been hard. I can imagine the waste paper basket of attempts overflowing. And yet, here you have achieved those all important words...

    Daddy were you cold
    laying upon that mountainside?
    Or did you lay in a patch
    of forget-me-nots
    with clouds drifting by?
    ^
    This first section, a question from your 7 year old self perhaps? I can sympathise for her/ you; wanting/ wishing that his last moments were surrounded by flowers, forget-me-nots very symbolic - never will I forget! The image of a man laying on soft flowers, watching a blue sky with pure white clouds gently rolling by is serene and a place perfect in a sense to pass onto another world. Lovely!

    Was death kind to you-
    allowing a peaceful end-
    or was it violent, and raw,
    snatching your life away?
    ^
    This following section slaps away the serene scene and reminds the reader (me) that there was violence, and the untimely death was too soon. The word 'snatching' suggest an evil hand robbing a precious life away. Thoughts of 'its not fair' and 'why him' are left hanging in the air still to this day (raw)

    I hold such fascination
    to the winged creature that took
    your life.
    marvel at its raw power-
    the way it claws at the sky.
    ^
    I can imagine every time you see a helicopter' thoughts take you back to your 7 year old self, the twinge of pain there still. The animosity alive, not seeing a mechanical machine, more a creature, like a fire breathing dragon. Despite the 'raw' feelings, this power up in the air, 'clawing at the sky'

    I think of you...
    so full of promise and life
    and of forget-me-nots
    and mountainsides....
    ^
    This final section brings the thoughts back to the mountainside; that serene scene where he lays on soft scented flowers, looking up at fluffy clouds as he drifts into them - always to be there in the sky whenever you look for him - he'll be there.

    Brenda, this is beautiful and I hope it helped writing this down. Thank you for sharing.

    Take care,

    Michael

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