Most Commented Family Poems (502)

As one gets older we look back over the years,
we made and lost many friends through neglect or death,
so many happy times and some with tears,
but what we have is family in depth,

Some of us are lucky we have plenty of kin,
a few of us only have themselves alone,
I remember the time I helped my sister break her shin,
but what awaits us all in the future is deaths tome,

So I ponder my time on this earth,
many mistakes and good choices too,
but in reality what is it all worth,
good times seem very rarely in view,

Now as time continues to roll on like a steady beat of drums,
I think carefully of the siblings my family,
most have children daughters and sons,
so for all this is my small homily,

I have a sister who has the terminal cancer plight,
now her husband is a slow sufferer too,
both have been always loving and full of fight,
their own big family growing all with life anew,

Here I sit maybe alone and in excellent health,
wishing at times at one can say or do,
wondering why sometimes the wrong cards are dealt,
My sister dear I would give the remainder of my life to you,

For then you can be there and watch the grandchildren grow,
morbid my thoughts of long life can be,
but some of us have lived through perilous times, many times so,
one or two here carry the same dreams of death we have seen and long to be free,

So you look up into the skies looking for the one called God,
praying and declaring your true loving faith,
we continue to grasp the straws and in this life plod,
so one day I will soon mourn members of my family as is the fate,

My mother the lasting matriarch,
growing older and frailer too,
I know you wish to go before your child leaves her spark,
so all the family you have, will always love you.

Pappa vat sy sakdoek
en vee die reen uit my gesig.
Terwyl ek voor hom staan
en my ogies op na hom toe rig.

Pappa is my "hero"
en ek is jou kindjie klein.
Ek dra nie rokkies nie
want Jesus maak my hartjie rein.

Pappa vat sy sakdoek
en vee die trane uit my oe.
Grood word krap my siel om
en gooi my lewe onderste bo.

Pappa bly my "Hero"
al raak ek soms so kwaad.
N goeie begrip kry n halwe woord
ek wens pa wil met my praat.

Pappa vat sy sakdoek
en druk dit in my hand.
Terwyl ek by hom in haak
tot voor die predikant.

Pappa is altyd my "Hero"
en ek bly verewig jou kindjie klein.
Die sakdoek van pa
was altyd die pad na my hartjie rein.

There is a quiet storm emerging
and the shadow in the corner
weeps.
Your brother sits
his tears in tatters,
batter up.
Sister, look at him,
our past continues to leak.
These thoughts haunt,
taunt,
and the stillness rapes my heart.

from those around....
ihear aCry....
a mouthful sob....
a hopeless sigh....
I hear their footsteps leaving slow,
And then i know my soul must FLY
A chilly wind
begins to blow,
within my soul,
from head to toe,
And then ,last breath
escapes my lips,it's time to leave.
And i must Go!
So,it is true
(But it's too late)
They said:each soul
has its given date
when it must leave
it's body's core,
and meet with it's
eternal fate.
Oh mark the words that i do say.
Who knows? tomorrow could be your day.

IRISH CRADLE
BY
BARBARA WALSH TATRO


It rocked us easy through the night
In comfort, warmth, and ancient sight,
Giving us dreams of parents flight
Resting us till early light.

We grew on tea and soda bread,
Colcanon at times the nightly spread.
Table talk of troubled times
That mom and dad left behind.

With them came their lullaby's
Their lilting voice in whisper size
Telling us of our Irish pride.

Southie Town is where we grew
In-between the darkened hue
And creed and doctrine, as babies knew.

The grape and faith walked hand in hand,
Our thoughts and heart of a land
Carved deep within tradition's band,
While Erie's waters stained our hands.

Now in thought and memories past
We feel the cradle rocking fast,
It's easy sway so far behind
Our view muddled, peat bog blind.

But the lilting voice, in whisper sound,
That sheltered cradles in Southie town
Did not need and eye to hear
Just a heart free from fear
Planted and watered by Irish tears.

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Moments by the Sea

For my Son Osvle, who, at three, helped me make a necklace out of sea-weed at the shore.
He placed it around my neck and I thought:


"Little one upon the shore,
tomato trunks, butter hair,
toddle on the moving sand.
Snatch a seagull if you can.
Let your ear kiss the shell
for within its walls,
the ageless sea you'll hear.
Peek at chubby prints your feet have made
like symbols left by running Wren.
Little one upon the shore
look to sea and feel the lore
of ancient tales and caverns deep
where dragons round their rooms do creep.
See the Clipper stuffed with wind?
It sails beyond where the land does end.
Feel how sleek the Ocean's weed?
A necklace made for you and me.
Little one upon the shore
hoard these treasures evermore.
For the future drags a heavy wind,
hiring ambush as its friend."

Copyright: Barbara Walsh Tatro May/2003

A Cabin boy, at fourteen years,
who never felt a mother's tears,
a home did search upon the sea.
"No one ever saw me leave."

The sea, at calm, a mirror clear,
reflected life and bits of tear.
"I am but a lad of fourteen years."

The wild sea, with cold salt spray,
churning and turning in a watery grave,
tried whipping up pictures of what was to come.
But the boy only saw feathered orbits spun.
And only the screech of gulls in his ears.
"I am but a lad of fourteen years.

Red, setting suns bled into his soul,
his spiritual journey now taking hold.
And the months wove a year,
while far off pealing bells did tell
of floating boys in a watery well,
"We are but lads of fourteen years."

Then in a wild storm with slapping gale and wind
there flashed a thought of hearth and home
and a feeling he was never alone.

Away with the vanishing storm
the wind did pocket his fears.
And then it was he began to feel
the pain of a mother's tears.
And the words rang in his ears.
"I left the lad in the raging Sea,
along with all my fears.
And here I stand upon the deck
a man of fourteen years."

Life is about compromising.
Life is going the extra mile.
Life is about forgiveness.
Life is seeing love when it appears.
Life is knowing who you are and where you come from.
Life is about winning and losing getting up and still fighting to live.
Life is seeing the good in people.
Life is about ups and downs.
Life is all about living it to the fullest.

The miles are long between us
so unfair you are so far,
but my love will brave the distance-
endless miles to where you are.
I cherish all the pictures,
hold you both inside my heart.
You and baby live with me
though we are far apart.
The past is done, live for today
I'm there for you forever.
Remember through the bad and good,
My love will leave you never.

I 've flying.,
But ,does'nt have raising..,
I 'm a leaf..,
But i was yellow.