Sarah Flanigan - Poetry Simply Put

Jun 16 2007

Profile Image of sarah flanigan
sarah flanigan

Dear Dad

Posted at 10:45 am under Devotion, Family, Love, count your blessings, ghosts, gratitude, hero, my heart, original fiction, sarah talks, time in a bottle

Dear Dad,

You’ve been gone a long time now. I still miss you. Obviously. We were the best of friends. Two peas in a pod. I was the chip off the old block. Much to Mom’s dismay. But maybe she didn’t really mind that much. Maybe secretly it made her proud that I loved you so. Maybe it assured her that I would grow up to be my own self - my own me.

So many things remind me of you. The early morning smell of coffee, deep and rich. Eyes, the color of the sky, backlit with sunshine. Strong, competent hands that know how to make things and fix things and hold onto things. A wink, a nod, that twinkle that says, “I understand.”

My memories aren’t the story or the words but the things that held me captive. That goofy grin of yours that I stole and made my own. Your proud exclamation that you were a hillbilly. The crook I snuggled into when I was tired or scared. The sips of beer I got for being ‘your girl.’ The collection of bows and arrows and rifles that hung on your wall. CB radios and old cars. Cowboy art and solving puzzles. You ground steel for a living but sowed seeds of curiosity in your kids. Your wisdom. Your kindness. Your papa-bear gruffness that could never hide your heart. All now, part of my heart, my being.

I just want to say, thanks - for always being there -for being my dad, my cowboy, my friend. For never giving up on me.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad.

All my love,

Sarah

6 responses so far

6 Responses to “Dear Dad”

chugheson 16 Jun 2007 at 1:41 pm 1

How loving!

hi christine,
thank you. i really loved my dad and miss him very much.
sarah
debambamon 17 Jun 2007 at 1:27 am 2

Beautiful Sarah, I’m sure he would have loved to have read this Cheers, Kelly
p.s Sorry it’s been so long
hi kel,
he probably would have been embarrassed to read it - but proud. i’m sorry it’s been so long too. but he’s here, with me, in my heart. as hokey as that sounds, i believe it.
sarah
~mon 17 Jun 2007 at 3:32 am 3

*The crook I snuggled into when I was tired or scared*
Sounds like your Dad was your ‘home’
I’m happy you had that little nook of safety in your life.
Sweet post, Sarah
~m

hi michael,
you really did come by - and here i laughed… he was indeed, my home. and probably always will be my true north. like i believe your mother was for you. happy father’s day, dear.
sarah
tomachfiveon 17 Jun 2007 at 7:06 am 4

Beautiful.

he was, tom - he really was.
sarah
Winterlandon 17 Jun 2007 at 9:17 am 5

Hello Sarah,
I’m glad to see that some things didn’t change while I was gone, your wonderful writing bringing out all sorts of emotions in me for one! Beautiful post!
Hugs and love,
Jennifer

hi jen!
how are you? how is our boy? i’ve been trying to keep up and it looks like he is doing great. a miracle.

i’m so glad to see you again. i hope youll be sharing your own wonderful words with us again soon. missed you terribly.

love,
sarah

ps: happy father’s day to gavin
spasmicallyperfecton 17 Jun 2007 at 4:28 pm 6

First of all to above comment, ditto Winterland, great to see you back.
Sarah, wonderful writing on your part. I am sure you’re father has heard you.
I don’t really know what to say, your post stands strong enough by itself.
S.

hi spaz,
thanks for reading. i hope you’re right. i hope he does hear it from wherever he is. that would make me happy.
love,
sarah