Torment and Choices
A different Father's Day Poem91 total reviews
Comment from Loyd C. Taylor, Sr
Hello poet friend. Your poem I am sure has touched many hearts and brought back sad memories of dads such as yours. I love the mystery as you moved the reader along. Well done. Thanks for using my artwork. Loyd
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2015
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Hello poet friend. Your poem I am sure has touched many hearts and brought back sad memories of dads such as yours. I love the mystery as you moved the reader along. Well done. Thanks for using my artwork. Loyd
Comment Written 03-Sep-2015
reply by the author on 03-Sep-2015
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Thank you so much, Loyd, for your comments and for the wonderful 6 star review. I always love your artwork, and try to incorporate it as often as I can. I also love your inspiring poetry, and consider this review a huge honor! Thank you so much,
Rhonda
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Hi Rhonda, you are very welcome and thank you. Loyd
Comment from Chellybelle
Such a fluid way to tell such a real and relevant story that I can certainly relate to. You have done a wonderful job conveying a very important message that so many are struggling with.
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2015
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Such a fluid way to tell such a real and relevant story that I can certainly relate to. You have done a wonderful job conveying a very important message that so many are struggling with.
Comment Written 01-Sep-2015
reply by the author on 01-Sep-2015
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Thank you so much for the review and comments! I don't write poetry often, but when I do, it's either as a joint project with someone else or something that is weighing on my mind. This one was the "something on my mind" type, and it's usually these that I do best on. Thanks again,
Rhonda
Comment from dmt1967
Addiction can tear a family apart my friend, and parents can cause us so much pain. This poem shows how any addiction can claim its victim. The picture helped with the message. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Addiction can tear a family apart my friend, and parents can cause us so much pain. This poem shows how any addiction can claim its victim. The picture helped with the message. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 31-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Thank you for taking time to review and comment!
Rhonda
Comment from Margaret Snowdon
How touching and sad this is, Rhonda.
A brilliant man lost to an addiction -
and once it takes hold, it not only
alters his life but that of his family's
A brilliant mind, an artist's heart,
poor choices made, life torn apart.
What might have been I never saw,
addiction was his fatal flaw.
A most impressive poem; the flow to the words, and to
both rhythm and rhyme, smooth throughout.
Margaret
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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How touching and sad this is, Rhonda.
A brilliant man lost to an addiction -
and once it takes hold, it not only
alters his life but that of his family's
A brilliant mind, an artist's heart,
poor choices made, life torn apart.
What might have been I never saw,
addiction was his fatal flaw.
A most impressive poem; the flow to the words, and to
both rhythm and rhyme, smooth throughout.
Margaret
Comment Written 31-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Thank you so much! I usually write long poems that are more epic in nature, but I am trying to learn to say more with less. It's helping with my prose as well. Thanks so much for such an honest and en our aging review!
Rhonda
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Hi Davisr - this is a really lovely poem - a dedication to your father. Well written in good aabb rhyme and such an honest write. The greatest man I've almost known - what a great start to your poem. Many people will identify with this. Strange but true - how well do we really know our parents? An excellent poem and a good read. Warm regards Dorothyx
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Hi Davisr - this is a really lovely poem - a dedication to your father. Well written in good aabb rhyme and such an honest write. The greatest man I've almost known - what a great start to your poem. Many people will identify with this. Strange but true - how well do we really know our parents? An excellent poem and a good read. Warm regards Dorothyx
Comment Written 31-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Thank you, Dorothy for taking time to review. You are right, the key to the whole poem is that line. People with many addictions, like drugs and alcohol never let you in close. And if you do manage to sneak inside, you just get hurt. Thanks again,
Rhonda
Comment from lightink
What a beautiful way of describing it "I've almost known (him)"! You convey admiration and the lack of connection (and the longing) in such a heartfelt way! There's a whole range of emotions in this piece from caring love to bitter detachment! Very well written! I am so sorry you didn't got to connect to him the way you probably both would have wanted it!
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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What a beautiful way of describing it "I've almost known (him)"! You convey admiration and the lack of connection (and the longing) in such a heartfelt way! There's a whole range of emotions in this piece from caring love to bitter detachment! Very well written! I am so sorry you didn't got to connect to him the way you probably both would have wanted it!
Comment Written 31-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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You made a good point. We both would have liked to have gotten closer, but the alcohol always drove us apart. Thanks for taking the time and effort to review,
Rhonda
Comment from Nan Beeson
Dear Rhonda:
So glad you posted a poem. I was so hoping it was one since as you already know, I do not read or review novels.
However, it made me sad when I saw the topic. How well I know of what you speak. My father also, was an alcoholic. In those they were refereed to as "Closet Drinkers." I know he was not responsible for his actions since alcohol can do harm to a person's brain. My father was one who, when he got drunk was a wife beater and tried to kill my mom, my brother and myself while in one of his drunken rages. It was a very unhappy childhood where fathers are concerned. but my MOM MADE UP FOR IT A THOUSANDFOLD. That makes it worth the heartbreak.
I know well of your heartbreak, Rhonda, but think I would have chosen as you did to have a broken heart AND a father who loved you. I hope that is some consolation to you. My father was by no means my "muse," although he was my first and only broken heart where men are concerned. My heart was broken more than once by losses of children, other family members and loved ones.
Your poem was very sincere and heartfelt and took a lot of guts to write it.
I love you much.
Sincerely,
Nan:))
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Dear Rhonda:
So glad you posted a poem. I was so hoping it was one since as you already know, I do not read or review novels.
However, it made me sad when I saw the topic. How well I know of what you speak. My father also, was an alcoholic. In those they were refereed to as "Closet Drinkers." I know he was not responsible for his actions since alcohol can do harm to a person's brain. My father was one who, when he got drunk was a wife beater and tried to kill my mom, my brother and myself while in one of his drunken rages. It was a very unhappy childhood where fathers are concerned. but my MOM MADE UP FOR IT A THOUSANDFOLD. That makes it worth the heartbreak.
I know well of your heartbreak, Rhonda, but think I would have chosen as you did to have a broken heart AND a father who loved you. I hope that is some consolation to you. My father was by no means my "muse," although he was my first and only broken heart where men are concerned. My heart was broken more than once by losses of children, other family members and loved ones.
Your poem was very sincere and heartfelt and took a lot of guts to write it.
I love you much.
Sincerely,
Nan:))
Comment Written 30-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 31-Aug-2015
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Thank you, Nan for the beautiful and exciting 6 stars. I was so excited to see it I couldn't stop smiling! was hoping you would review my poem. I am usually better than at stories, but I've had people trying to teach me poetry, and this was a story close to my heart.
I was fortunate that my father was not a mean drunk. He wouldn't hurt us, not physically, anyway. He would just disappear for weeks or months at a time. Every time he came back around I would tell myself not to get attached, or to begin to believe he was going to stay sober and stay around. Then off he would go again. The last time he didn't return, because he died.
Much love,
Rhonda
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Oh, Rhonda. What a sad ending. I can imagine the pain and worry from your not hearing from him for months on end and not knowing if he was dead or alive. I went through that with my (shell-shocked) alcoholic brother and still do not know if he is dead or alive or where he is. I am certain he has died somewhere and in a grave who knows where! He was older than I am and walked with a cane decades ago the last time I saw him when I was in Vegas.
People go through so much pain, and one thinks theirs is the worst until they hear of someone else's. That is why I try not to complain about my minor aches and pains and so grateful I still wake up every morning. LOL! Supposed to be a joke? Who knows?
Love you much....Nan:))
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I was actually with him when he died. A friend found him passed out in the sun, and he had had a stroke. He lived for about a week, and then passed sweetly in a coma. My sister and I sat with him, so it was so much better than it could have been. Still, though, we lost him after a drunk that he never quite got out of. It was sad, but at least we knew where he was.
Right now, however, the son I've told you about before is living on the streets because he refuses to follow anyone's rules, and is abusive to whoever tries to help him. In many ways, he is so much my father's grandson. And he has a three year old son. I only hope he can get things together so he can be there father his was not, and mine was not.
Hugs and squeezes
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Oh, Rhonda, what can I say. Such heartache you have known. I know more than you would care to know about the son....You have so much to handle, and what can a mother do? My
heart goes out to you and if any comfort that I understand. It is even harder when you go through it and then find out that you are older as I am and can no longer drive and have difficulty seeing and hearing and wondering if you will wake up in the morning. Please do not think I am complaining, and perhaps I said too much. I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES! I am so sorry, but just take it as being good to yourself and come first if it comes to that. I know you are great nutrition wise because of your knowledge of gardening and cattle, but it is the EYES I want you to be most careful of because it is age-related. Be sure and get your yearly eye exam and make certain you go to see him the moment you see ANY DIFFERENCE IN YOUR VISION NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT MAY SEEM. I am revising the eye post and think I will post it again. One of the gals on FS, you may know her, (Shari i.e. Spitfire.) She said her half- sister had it and took the eye injections and STILL WENT BLIND! She said she would rather go blind in one eye and be able to see with the other! I do not like being negative, but love you so, want you to take every precaution while you are still young, since everything is so polluted today...even the air we breathe and water we drink, that it is a miracle we survive. But you already know all of that. FORGIVE ME for spouting off as I did. I did not mean to scare you, just to tell you to take good care of yourself, I love you so much, you are such a great lady and I admire so.
A goodnight hug to lull you to sleep.
Nan:))
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Oh, Rhonda, what can I say. Such heartache you have known. I know more than you would care to know about the son....You have so much to handle, and what can a mother do? My
heart goes out to you and if any comfort that I understand. It is even harder when you go through it and then find out that you are older as I am and can no longer drive and have difficulty seeing and hearing and wondering if you will wake up in the morning. Please do not think I am complaining, and perhaps I said too much. I AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES! I am so sorry, but just take it as being good to yourself and come first if it comes to that. I know you are great nutrition wise because of your knowledge of gardening and cattle, but it is the EYES I want you to be most careful of because it is age-related. Be sure and get your yearly eye exam and make certain you go to see him the moment you see ANY DIFFERENCE IN YOUR VISION NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL IT MAY SEEM. I am revising the eye post and think I will post it again. One of the gals on FS, you may know her, (Shari i.e. Spitfire.) She said her half- sister had it and took the eye injections and STILL WENT BLIND! She said she would rather go blind in one eye and be able to see with the other! I do not like being negative, but love you so, want you to take every precaution while you are still young, since everything is so polluted today...even the air we breathe and water we drink, that it is a miracle we survive. But you already know all of that. FORGIVE ME for spouting off as I did. I did not mean to scare you, just to tell you to take good care of yourself, I love you so much, you are such a great lady and I admire so.
A goodnight hug to lull you to sleep.
Nan:))
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Oh, Rhonda. What a sad ending. I can imagine the pain and worry from your not hearing from him for months on end and not knowing if he was dead or alive. I went through that with my (shell-shocked) alcoholic brother and still do not know if he is dead or alive or where he is. I am certain he has died somewhere and in a grave who knows where! He was older than I am and walked with a cane decades ago the last time I saw him when I was in Vegas.
People go through so much pain, and one thinks theirs is the worst until they hear of someone else's. That is why I try not to complain about my minor aches and pains and so grateful I still wake up every morning. LOL! Supposed to be a joke? Who knows?
Love you much....Nan:))
Comment from Michelle Joy
Wow, this poem flowed so nicely I enjoyed it a lot and read over it a couple times. I can definitely relate to it, and you did a phenomenal job writing this. Well done.
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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Wow, this poem flowed so nicely I enjoyed it a lot and read over it a couple times. I can definitely relate to it, and you did a phenomenal job writing this. Well done.
Comment Written 30-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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Thank you so much, Michelle, it was one of those from the heart kind of poems. I'm glad you took the time to review, and I am sincerely excited to receive a coveted 6 star review. You are the sweetest! Take care,
Rhonda
Comment from Nosha17
You have captured the essence of the devastation of addiction in your words. How sad that it destroys the person and those around him. Well chosen words and excellent rhyming. Faye
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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You have captured the essence of the devastation of addiction in your words. How sad that it destroys the person and those around him. Well chosen words and excellent rhyming. Faye
Comment Written 30-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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Thank you, Faye. You are right, many are hurt by one person's choices. Take care,
Rhonda
Comment from TPAC
Sad confession, seeing your side of this coin, being as your father that other side. Many things, that could have happened, might inspire our actions in life. We all have our hell to face: ruling only God over those circumstances.
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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Sad confession, seeing your side of this coin, being as your father that other side. Many things, that could have happened, might inspire our actions in life. We all have our hell to face: ruling only God over those circumstances.
Comment Written 30-Aug-2015
reply by the author on 30-Aug-2015
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Wow, thank you for the 6 star review, and the uplifting review. I am learning to become concise and I'm finding it rewarding. Take care,
Rhonda