My Father's Tears
An Age of Stoicism31 total reviews
Comment from w.j.debi
Men were taught they weren't supposed to show emotion. My mother says that none of men she knew who went to war ever talked about it. They saw and endured terrible things, but kept it to themselves.
This is a tender poem, full of understanding and compassion. Thank you for sharing.
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Men were taught they weren't supposed to show emotion. My mother says that none of men she knew who went to war ever talked about it. They saw and endured terrible things, but kept it to themselves.
This is a tender poem, full of understanding and compassion. Thank you for sharing.
Comment Written 06-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much for this kind rating and your lovely comments, all greatly appreciated! Take care Debbie
Comment from dragonpoet
Hi Debbie,
This poem gives strong images of your dad's life during the war. The meter sounds like marching.
He must have been in his 20's when he went to war. He looked so young in that picture. It's amazing he lived through that march. Faith seemed to carry him through. I think a lot of soldiers keep their feelings about the war inside. I can see how it touched you deeply to see him crying at his mother's funeral.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Joan
Keep writing and stay healthy
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Hi Debbie,
This poem gives strong images of your dad's life during the war. The meter sounds like marching.
He must have been in his 20's when he went to war. He looked so young in that picture. It's amazing he lived through that march. Faith seemed to carry him through. I think a lot of soldiers keep their feelings about the war inside. I can see how it touched you deeply to see him crying at his mother's funeral.
Enjoy the rest of your week.
Joan
Keep writing and stay healthy
Comment Written 06-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much for this! Your lovely comments mean a lot to me. Take care, Debbie
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Don't mention it, Debbie.
You too.
Joan
Comment from Goodadvicechan
All soldiers are heroes. They fought for our country, not knowing exactly why. They all eventually come home as heroes, except Trump
Calling John McCain a non- hero. How inhuman he is... yet he used false
Medical paper to avoid being drafted..Such a hypocrite.
I admire your father's bravery and sympathies for his capture.
Thank you for sharing such a story.
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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All soldiers are heroes. They fought for our country, not knowing exactly why. They all eventually come home as heroes, except Trump
Calling John McCain a non- hero. How inhuman he is... yet he used false
Medical paper to avoid being drafted..Such a hypocrite.
I admire your father's bravery and sympathies for his capture.
Thank you for sharing such a story.
Comment Written 05-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much for your kind rating and thoughtful comments. This is all greatly appreciated. Take care Debbie
Comment from BethShelby
Wow! He looks so young in that picture. I would have guessed about 15. That war was horrible and I know many didn't want to talk about all the terrible thing they saw and experienced. The poem is a lovely tribute to your father.
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Wow! He looks so young in that picture. I would have guessed about 15. That war was horrible and I know many didn't want to talk about all the terrible thing they saw and experienced. The poem is a lovely tribute to your father.
Comment Written 05-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 06-Jul-2023
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Thank you, Beth, for your lovely rating and comments! He was in fact 20 but the mission was absolutely scandalous - they were just thrown to the wolves. Take care Debbie
Comment from Bill Schott
This powerful poem rates a six which I don't have right now. Owe you. This verse points out that stoic man who kept the terrors of war bottled up, presumably to not have such horror known by others.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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This powerful poem rates a six which I don't have right now. Owe you. This verse points out that stoic man who kept the terrors of war bottled up, presumably to not have such horror known by others.
Comment Written 05-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Bill! Your words and rating are greatly appreciated. Take care Debbie
Comment from Brett Matthew West
War is rough no matter the situation.
This poem depicts although he experienced all this mistreatment he managed to survive.
Sounds like so many others he left a boy and came back a man.
War will do that to somebody real quick.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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War is rough no matter the situation.
This poem depicts although he experienced all this mistreatment he managed to survive.
Sounds like so many others he left a boy and came back a man.
War will do that to somebody real quick.
Comment Written 05-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Brett, for this kind rating and thoughtful comments. This is all greatly appreciated. Take care Debbie
Comment from WalkerMan
This flawless masterwork of remembrance of your dear father, whose dreams of the pleasant life he would live was shattered when he was drafted to be sent to France on a poorly planned mission resulting in immediate capture by the invading Germans and miserable imprisonment. Eventually, he was sent to what is now Poland to work the land. Near the war's end, the Germans released captive soldiers as Russian forces approached, so they had to march up to a thousand miles in hope of going home. The journey's hardships took many lives, but your father managed to survive. However, even though he never had to participate in the horrors of actual warfare, he saw and experienced enough misery to keep silent about it all the rest of his life. Yet, when his beloved mother passed away, he was finally able to shed tears.
Ages ago, wars were led and personally risked by those who wanted them, but more recently politicians send others' sons and/or daughters to do the fighting for them, caring nothing about the suffering they'll have to experience. Either way, war is an evil humanity should be wise enough to cease; but it is sadly evident that we are not yet there.
Superb, aptly illustrated with your father's portrait in uniform, and supplemented with helpful Author Notes.
Please accept my condolences for your loss of whatever good times you could have had with your father when his memories interfered.
This poem is worthy of publication with others of related theme at zero cost to you, and without infringing on your rights as the author. I'll provide more information in a PM for you to consider. Several other FanStorians have accepted this offer since 2017.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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This flawless masterwork of remembrance of your dear father, whose dreams of the pleasant life he would live was shattered when he was drafted to be sent to France on a poorly planned mission resulting in immediate capture by the invading Germans and miserable imprisonment. Eventually, he was sent to what is now Poland to work the land. Near the war's end, the Germans released captive soldiers as Russian forces approached, so they had to march up to a thousand miles in hope of going home. The journey's hardships took many lives, but your father managed to survive. However, even though he never had to participate in the horrors of actual warfare, he saw and experienced enough misery to keep silent about it all the rest of his life. Yet, when his beloved mother passed away, he was finally able to shed tears.
Ages ago, wars were led and personally risked by those who wanted them, but more recently politicians send others' sons and/or daughters to do the fighting for them, caring nothing about the suffering they'll have to experience. Either way, war is an evil humanity should be wise enough to cease; but it is sadly evident that we are not yet there.
Superb, aptly illustrated with your father's portrait in uniform, and supplemented with helpful Author Notes.
Please accept my condolences for your loss of whatever good times you could have had with your father when his memories interfered.
This poem is worthy of publication with others of related theme at zero cost to you, and without infringing on your rights as the author. I'll provide more information in a PM for you to consider. Several other FanStorians have accepted this offer since 2017.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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Dear Mike, thank you so much for this very kind rating and wonderful comments which are always so greatly valued. I have actually changed that second to last line because it obviously caused confusion, the intention being that his mother's death prompted the tears. I was still quite young but the effect of seeing his tears in the driver's mirror as we were going to the funeral was quite a pivotal moment for me. He was a very gentle and kind man but lacking any spontaneous display of affection as though he didn't want to let go. Your suggestion at the end sounds great and irresistible, Mike:) Thanks again for your time. I hope you're keeping well and not too busy. Debbie xx
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You are most welcome, Debbie. Yes, I see the revised line and have changed my relevant comment accordingly so that my review won't confuse anyone who reads it. Your father clearly was a good man.
Thank you for accepting my publication offer. I'll send you the details in a PM. :)) -- Mike
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
I have known so many soldiers over the years who have chosen not to speak of their war experiences with anyone other than those who were there. We can't possibly understand what they went through.
I'm not sure I understand the last stanza. Was this the moment he returned home when you could see his eyes? Is "his mother dear" his country?
The world is a cruel, cruel place in times of war, and war is all around us in one way or another throughout the world right now. I mourn us.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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I have known so many soldiers over the years who have chosen not to speak of their war experiences with anyone other than those who were there. We can't possibly understand what they went through.
I'm not sure I understand the last stanza. Was this the moment he returned home when you could see his eyes? Is "his mother dear" his country?
The world is a cruel, cruel place in times of war, and war is all around us in one way or another throughout the world right now. I mourn us.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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Dear Pam, thank you so much for your lovely rating and comments which are greatly valued! I've actually changed that second to last line which I hope now makes more sense. The first time I saw him cry which was quite a pivotal moment was when we were driving to his mother's funeral and I saw his eyes in the driver's mirror. That sight will always remain with me. Thanks for asking because I think I was trying to cram too much into one line there:( Debbie
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Oh, I'm glad you clarified that!
xo
Comment from nomi338
I was never a prisoner of war, but I have been a prisoner of unreleased grief. While baby sitting my oldest sister's firstborn, the little fellow died and I did not know enough to realize it. His death was inevitable, and no one blamed me. I did not matter as I blamed myself/ I did not allow myself to express my grief for a period of nearly 15 years. When the tears did finally come, they were almost unstoppable.
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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I was never a prisoner of war, but I have been a prisoner of unreleased grief. While baby sitting my oldest sister's firstborn, the little fellow died and I did not know enough to realize it. His death was inevitable, and no one blamed me. I did not matter as I blamed myself/ I did not allow myself to express my grief for a period of nearly 15 years. When the tears did finally come, they were almost unstoppable.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 05-Jul-2023
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Dear Nomi, thank you so much for your kind rating and thoughtful comments. I'm so sad you had to go through that experience and it's obviously still painfully memorable. I think perhaps we have to know that our life experiences make us the person we are and that, despite your undeserved self-blame, you've emerged stronger with greater insight into yourself and others. Bless you for sharing that, Debbie
Comment from lyenochka
I'm so sad reading this story. I wish you had put this in the Story poem contest. This cruel death march sounds like the one the Japanese did to soldiers in the Philippines. The cruelty of humans knows no bounds.
Your poem tells the history as well as of a heart who was told he could not share his emotions. I think that is also cruel to not be able to deal with the pain within. Virtual six!
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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I'm so sad reading this story. I wish you had put this in the Story poem contest. This cruel death march sounds like the one the Japanese did to soldiers in the Philippines. The cruelty of humans knows no bounds.
Your poem tells the history as well as of a heart who was told he could not share his emotions. I think that is also cruel to not be able to deal with the pain within. Virtual six!
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Helen, for this lovely rating and comments! I greatly appreciate everything you say here. Take care Debbie
