Comment from Sasha

Exceptional

This is a beautifully written, heart felt poem that touched my heart deeply. You express your love and admiration for your father so very well in this one. Beautiful tribute to a great father who's family always came first.

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Jun-2018

Thank you very much for reading, Sasha, and for the six stars as well.
Sorry for the delay in responding.
With my dad passing away recently I've fallen a bit behind.
It's not that I don't appreciate your input because I do.
It's just been a little crazy around here lately.
Thanks so much again.

reply by Sasha on 23-Jun-2018

No problem. Take you time and take care of yourself first. I am so sorry to hear about your father.

Comment from Dolly'sPoems

Exceptional

My condolences Dean and this poem is a warm and loving tribute to your father, your feelings will be raw at the moment and you have your lovely memories to keep you warm, my thoughts are with you, love Dolly x

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Jun-2018

Thank you very much for reading, Dolly, and for the six stars as well.
Sorry for the delay in responding.
With my dad passing away recently I've fallen a bit behind.
It's not that I don't appreciate your input because I do.
It's just been a little crazy around here lately.
Thanks so much again.

Comment from krys123

Excellent

Cheers, Dean;
-Love the music my friend, and I enjoyed it all the way through the reading.
-Your writing is definitively priceless and showing your true and whole love for your father, who has just the amount of pride, courage and stamina to instill your proud way of honoring him In this dignified manner.
-The following are some small punctuation issues;
(I'm now hooked on punctuationguide.com that defines and instructs the correct use of all punctuation.)
~#~
-"But I have something priceless(comma)
that can't be sold or bought."
~#~
-"And just for having had it( comma for syntactical break)
my life's been truly blessed."
~#~
-"I don't own a Ferrari(comma)
but still, I made you proud."
-Thanks for sharing this very delightful region which was so enjoyable and I sure get a good picture of your dad from this writing.
-Take care and have a good one, Dean, especially where you can find it.
Alex

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 02-Jun-2018

Thanks.
Take care,
~Dean

reply by krys123 on 02-Jun-2018

You betcha

Comment from johnwilson

Excellent

Oh, Dean...what an awesome tribute to your Dad; you were both lucky to have had each other--an incredible presentation here--the goosebumps are raising the hairs on my arms. Thank you for sharing such an intimate piece of your life. It shows here like the sun rising and falling--an every day!

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 02-Jun-2018

Thanks.
I appreciate the read & your review.
Take care,
~Dean

Comment from Pamusart

Excellent

This is very nice Dean. I wonder why the site does not have a Father's Day Poetry contest as it did for Mother's Day. I liked the movie "On Golden Pond" a lot. Nice rhyming scheme and nice tribute to your father. I am happy that there was live between the two of you. Thank you for sharing. This is my favorite stanza

"I don't own a Ferrari
but still, I made you proud.
You said, "Son, don't be sorry
for dreaming on a cloud.""

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 30-May-2018

Thank you very much, Pam.
My dad was my real American hero and a great role model--not only to me and my two younger brothers--but to everyone who knew him.
He's at peace now and I'm grateful I had a such strong relationship with dad well into my adult years.
Many aren't that fortunate.
Take care, and thanks again for your kind comments & condolences.
~Dean

reply by Pamusart on 30-May-2018

Smile

Comment from Joy Graham

Excellent

So sorry for your loss, Dean. I lost my dad five years ago. I can't believe how much time has gone by, but the funeral feels like it was yesterday. My mom is still going strong and will turn 91 next month. I'm grateful to have my parents with me into my adult years. That love and support is a treasure.

Joy xx

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 30-May-2018

I don't believe you ever completely get over the loss of a parent, a child, a beloved member of your family, and even a pet sometimes, Joy.
I recall every dog my parents had when we were growing up, and every dog I've had the pleasure of owning since.
Although I'm not so sure I own Gidget, my old grumpy Chihuahua.
My kids and family claim that Gidget owns me, and they're probably right.
Thank you for your kind condolences.
I appreciate your review.
~Dean

reply by Joy Graham on 30-May-2018

I lost my cat last week too. It just seems like I can't get a break from being sick.

reply by the author on 30-May-2018

I'm truly sorry to hear about your cat, Joy.
I don't know what I would do if something happened to Gidget, my 17-year-old Chihuahua, on top of everything else.
It's bound to get better eventually.
Hang in there!
~Dean

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

A fine tribute to a fine man, Dean. The mining area of West Virginia I believe is very similar to what the Welsh Valleys, where I live once were. The comradeship of those who worked down the pits was well known and thow impoverished the mining towns were full of love and dedication to the welfare of those with whom they worked underground. this poem captures a picture of a similar situation on the far side of the pond.

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 30-May-2018

Thanks, Jim.
My dad was my real American hero and a great role model for not only me and my two younger brothers, but to everyone who knew him.
He is at peace now and I'm grateful I had such a strong relationship with dad well into my adult years.
Many are not quite as fortunate.
Cheers, Jim, and thanks again for your kind comments & condolences.
~Dean

reply by Pantygynt on 30-May-2018

And thanks for making the effort to attend the last session of the class. Will you be joining the blank versers for more pentametrical purgatory?

reply by the author on 30-May-2018

Yes, I'll be attending, Jim.
That is if I can get my TeamSpeak to work properly and quit crashing on me.
It used to happen all the time so I downloaded the updates offered and it's been working fine.
Then yesterday, it crashed again.
I made 102 log-in attempts after it crashed and each one of them failed.
I shut down and rebooted my computer twice--still nothing.
Site support rarely, if ever, responds when you send them an error report and explanation concerning the crash.
I'll keep tinkering with it and let you know something one way or the other.
Thanks again,
~Dean

Comment from kiwijenny

Excellent

Dean I'm so sorry for your loss.
What a beautiful tribute to your hard working dad.
God bless and keep you comforted.
Hugs
Jenny

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 30-May-2018

Thank you very much, Jenny.
My dad was my real American hero and a great role model--not only to me and my two younger brothers--but to everyone who knew him.
He is at peace now and I am very grateful that I had a such strong relationship with dad well into my adult years.
Many are not quite as lucky.
Take care, Jenny, and thanks again for your kind comments & condolences.
~Dean

Comment from Roxanna Andrews

Exceptional

I'm so sorry to hear about your father. It is wonderful that you had such a good relationship with him and great memories. He sounds like quite a man, a great role model. I pray the Lord will bring you much comfort in the days ahead and bring to mind special moments spent with your dad. I lost both my parents 18yrs ago, they died too young and with in two months of each other. Mom went first and dad just decided to die, couldn't live without her. I think of them every day and have a ton of really funny stories about my mom.

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Jun-2018

Thank you very much for reading, Rox, and for the six stars as well.
Sorry for the delay in responding.
With my dad passing away recently I've fallen a bit behind.
It's not that I don't appreciate your input because I do.
It's just been a little crazy around here lately.
Thanks so much again.

reply by Roxanna Andrews on 23-Jun-2018

That's okay, I know you haven't been feeling so great as well, and the loss of a parent on top of that much be very hard. My parents have been gone about 18 yrs and I still think of them everyday. They were too young to die. My younger sis also passed a few years ago from cancer. I was very hard to lose a younger sister. I just posted a story about her. She was such a royal brat when younger. There were 5 of us kids, and we called her the Wild Cat, she was such a terror. But she mellowed greatly after marriage and motherhood and became a really wonderful person. It was an amazing transformation. Anyway I am sorry about your loss, they are never easy, but get easier to deal with over time. Do you have siblings? I know I could never have coped with out their support and love. We have great memories besides and that is a comfort and knowing I will see them all again one day. I'm getting closer to that everyday. =} You take care and I hope you had a good Birthday.

Comment from LateBloomer

Exceptional

Dean, True Riches is a gorgeous poem. The love that you feel for your father can be felt through each and every line and verse. The ending of your poem is warm and heartfelt. Your artwork choice is reflective, and it complements your poem. This is a poem of gratitude, and it is beautifully penned. True Riches is not only golden, it is better than gold. Dean, I'm sorry for your recent loss. Many your cherished memories live forevermore. Keep the blue waters flowing. LateBloomer

 Comment Written 30-May-2018

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reply by the author on 23-Jun-2018

Thank you very much for reading, Margaret, and for the six stars as well.
Sorry for the delay in responding.
With my dad passing away recently I've fallen a bit behind.
It's not that I don't appreciate your input because I do.
It's just been a little crazy around here lately.
Thanks so much again.

reply by LateBloomer on 26-Jun-2018

Dear Dean, Hang in there. You've suffered a great loss. You will never forget your dad, and in my humble opinion from personal experience, time does not heal. It may fade the pain a bit, but it does not heal.

And by the way, I'm starting to wonder if we should take a DNA test - lol ? "Dad was born on December 17, 1937, in the tiny mining and farming town of Whitesburg, Kentucky. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 25, 2018. As the oldest of thirteen children and dirt-poor growing up, he worked in the coal mines of West Virginia at the age of 15 to help my grandparents buy food, pay bills and see that no one in his family went without. "

D, the same can be said for my father. He was born in 1923 in Dickson City, PA ? a coal mining town outside of Scranton. He was child #6 of 13 children as well. My grandfather died from black lung when my dad was six years old, and my grandmother was left a young widow. My dad and his brothers use to wait for the coal trains to pass, and they gathered the coal that fell off the train and then sold it from a street corner--they needed food more than heat. The welfare department threatened to take my grandmother's children away, so my dad ran away at age 12. Older siblings had already been sent to a relative in NYC and were put to work. Everyone sent money home, including my 12 year old dad. He did not go to NYC. He did it his way. At age 14, he lied about his age and joined the CC's. At age 16 he joined the Army. It was WWII, and I'll stop there because the rest is not pretty ? but the money always flowed home to his mother, a new stepfather - also a coal miner, and new babies that he had never met.

D, the world is so different today. We have a generation(s) of young, healthy men (and women) who do not work, but sit irresponsibly at home. They do nothing for themselves or others, but many, maybe most of them, mange to buy drugs ? hmmm, I wonder how they get that money ?. hmmm, stupid parents give it to them, instead of kicking their ass out and making men and women out of them. Ohhh, let's not forget all the government money that also helps them sit at home ? and all the government money being used for drugs vs. taking care of the children. OK ? I'll stop here. I've shared some of my history, and you've heard my rant. Enjoy your day and scare your fans or write something romantic and woo them instead.
Lol. Margaret

reply by the author on 26-Jun-2018

Perhaps a DNA test is in order, Margaret, lol.
Thanks for sharing some of your personal family history with me. Some of the parallels are mind boggling, aren't they?
Take care,
~Dean :)

reply by LateBloomer on 26-Jun-2018

Perhaps, we're cousins.