A beautiful poem for your son. Much is said of women and mothers being cycle breakers, but less so (in my limited experience!) about fathers. Thank you for this heartfelt and honest share.
I have found your page because you followed me, for which, thankyou. But actually the main reason I am grateful is because it has introduced me to your work, which is powerful, beautiful, sincere and, to me, important. My brother is great at reminding me that I love poetry as well as prose, and that it's unique magic needs more of my time. Now your account will do that for me too, thankyou. I am taking my my time reading and exploring your posts slowly, because I feel that is the respect your words deserve. I started with We Named Him Wren, which I find so moving. Your style has an elegaic quality that is mesmerising, and there's a powerful simplicity to your words that somehow sacrifices none of the complexity of meaning. The brilliant line 'Do memories travel in blood?' speaks to intergenerational trauma but with none of the clunky technicality of those words. I love the idea of leaving a nest half undone for another to finish; it's so tempting, especially with a child, to want to finish the whole thing. It's wonderful hearing fathers writing about sons, we need a lot more of this. I'm writing my first novel, and it's really all about parent-child relationships. I look forward to reading more from you as I've subscribed immediately. Sorry if this was a bit long, but a like felt too insincere and insufficient a response to such amazing poetry.
You have floored me. And nailed exactly why I write and how I write. Or at least try to. I need time to digest how your words have made me feel. Proud.
Truly beautiful and heartfelt—masculinity as it should be, where the human condition writes itself into the bones, the sticks and stones, of a partially untidy nest, to be handed to the next generation with unconditioned love.
As a mom raising two girls while reparenting myself, I’ve long been immersed in the war and walls of the woman’s perspective. This piece pulled me out of that, gifting me a sense of both newness and oneness.
OMG! This poem will follow me for the rest of my life, I kid you not. This is not an exaggeration. Everything, from the reflections to the poem itself to the generational trauma our fathers and forefathers imparted. There are so many things I want to quote from this post. It absolutely delivers the point home. THANK YOU for this! "Migrated desires,
lost in a hazy distance,
bordering close to a new life."
And because you said "But if there is one thing I know for sure, it is this: silence is the worst inheritance." I'd ask you to check out my poem "Wounds in my mother tongue". It is also, perhaps, the most personal poem I ever wrote. https://goyaabyharam.substack.com/p/wounds-in-my-mother-tongue?r=443xr3 It is about silence, words, motherhood, inheritance, and language. I feel like it will resonate with you, and I hope this feeling turns out to be true. Keep doing the great work of writing poems and raising your children with love! :)
Thank you for sharing this deep and beautiful exploration. There is so much there to think about and feel.
I don’t know how far along your parenting is, but as ours are nearly middle-aged, I know that if you give it all you have it doesn’t end, only transforms into new kinds of love and beauty that ache and pleasure in different and surprising ways. I hope you enjoy a long life with your children.
I wrote this poem about our little wrens. I’d like to share it here with you because it resonates so well with your poem.
Well done! As a grandfather, living through it all again, in very close proximity to a new generation of little ones, this poem takes on even new significance for me. Thank you!!
A beautiful poem for your son. Much is said of women and mothers being cycle breakers, but less so (in my limited experience!) about fathers. Thank you for this heartfelt and honest share.
I wholeheartedly agree. We need more empathetic men in this world sharing their experiences. We do ourselves a disservice, most days.
I have found your page because you followed me, for which, thankyou. But actually the main reason I am grateful is because it has introduced me to your work, which is powerful, beautiful, sincere and, to me, important. My brother is great at reminding me that I love poetry as well as prose, and that it's unique magic needs more of my time. Now your account will do that for me too, thankyou. I am taking my my time reading and exploring your posts slowly, because I feel that is the respect your words deserve. I started with We Named Him Wren, which I find so moving. Your style has an elegaic quality that is mesmerising, and there's a powerful simplicity to your words that somehow sacrifices none of the complexity of meaning. The brilliant line 'Do memories travel in blood?' speaks to intergenerational trauma but with none of the clunky technicality of those words. I love the idea of leaving a nest half undone for another to finish; it's so tempting, especially with a child, to want to finish the whole thing. It's wonderful hearing fathers writing about sons, we need a lot more of this. I'm writing my first novel, and it's really all about parent-child relationships. I look forward to reading more from you as I've subscribed immediately. Sorry if this was a bit long, but a like felt too insincere and insufficient a response to such amazing poetry.
You have floored me. And nailed exactly why I write and how I write. Or at least try to. I need time to digest how your words have made me feel. Proud.
Beautiful poem...so heartfelt and vulnerable. A tough subject written so gently.
I appreciate you taking time to read my words and share your own. Thank you!
You write so beautiful
I’m glad you like my writing
Truly beautiful and heartfelt—masculinity as it should be, where the human condition writes itself into the bones, the sticks and stones, of a partially untidy nest, to be handed to the next generation with unconditioned love.
As a mom raising two girls while reparenting myself, I’ve long been immersed in the war and walls of the woman’s perspective. This piece pulled me out of that, gifting me a sense of both newness and oneness.
This means the world to me. Thank you
That was meant to say too insincere just to post a like!
Beautiful! I love the wholesomeness of this poem.
OMG! This poem will follow me for the rest of my life, I kid you not. This is not an exaggeration. Everything, from the reflections to the poem itself to the generational trauma our fathers and forefathers imparted. There are so many things I want to quote from this post. It absolutely delivers the point home. THANK YOU for this! "Migrated desires,
lost in a hazy distance,
bordering close to a new life."
And because you said "But if there is one thing I know for sure, it is this: silence is the worst inheritance." I'd ask you to check out my poem "Wounds in my mother tongue". It is also, perhaps, the most personal poem I ever wrote. https://goyaabyharam.substack.com/p/wounds-in-my-mother-tongue?r=443xr3 It is about silence, words, motherhood, inheritance, and language. I feel like it will resonate with you, and I hope this feeling turns out to be true. Keep doing the great work of writing poems and raising your children with love! :)
Wow! What a thoughtful comment, thank you for taking time. I will now go and read your poem with joy.
I will be honoured :)
So beautiful, so glad I came across this.
I am brought to tears by this vulnerable yet empowering poem
Thanking you kindly
Thank you for sharing this deep and beautiful exploration. There is so much there to think about and feel.
I don’t know how far along your parenting is, but as ours are nearly middle-aged, I know that if you give it all you have it doesn’t end, only transforms into new kinds of love and beauty that ache and pleasure in different and surprising ways. I hope you enjoy a long life with your children.
I wrote this poem about our little wrens. I’d like to share it here with you because it resonates so well with your poem.
It’s titled “Wrens and ‘Rents”.
https://www.abandonedmine.org/wrens-and-rents-michael-bickford
Beautiful.
I think we write from opposite sides of the coin. https://open.substack.com/pub/plutowolnosci/p/quarry?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Well done! As a grandfather, living through it all again, in very close proximity to a new generation of little ones, this poem takes on even new significance for me. Thank you!!
Spiritbumps! Thank you. Wise words.
Spiritbumps. What a lovely turn of phrase.
Wow. Powerful.
Thank you
It won’t accept a like from me, so just to say thank you for this beautiful treasure of love and thoughtfulness.
Thank you!