My Father's Tears
An Age of Stoicism31 total reviews
Comment from Richard Montfort Cary
Debbie,
A difficult poem to endure. My father was dragged off to fight the Japanese, having been raised himself in Tokyo and endowed with fluency in the language. War sucks. Violence begets violence. Your father was fortunate that the Russians helped to utterly defeat the Nazis. And today? Tears fall from all of us again.
Richard
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Debbie,
A difficult poem to endure. My father was dragged off to fight the Japanese, having been raised himself in Tokyo and endowed with fluency in the language. War sucks. Violence begets violence. Your father was fortunate that the Russians helped to utterly defeat the Nazis. And today? Tears fall from all of us again.
Richard
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you, Richard, for your kind rating and interesting comments. All war sucks as you say. But I don't doubt that your father's experience was particularly harrowing against the Japanese.
It's just hard to imagine what they went through and we need to keep on remembering. Thanks again Debbie
Comment from Dolly'sPoems
This is a fine write Debbie about your Father and you paid a huge tribute to him here and I loved your poem about how he suffered as a prisoner of war, but he survived never to speak of it again. A wonderful touching post Debbie.
This line is out of metre and would sound better like this Debbie, it still means the same in German:
Los Schnell, schnell!" they (would) shout
This is a skilful and heart rendering write, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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This is a fine write Debbie about your Father and you paid a huge tribute to him here and I loved your poem about how he suffered as a prisoner of war, but he survived never to speak of it again. A wonderful touching post Debbie.
This line is out of metre and would sound better like this Debbie, it still means the same in German:
Los Schnell, schnell!" they (would) shout
This is a skilful and heart rendering write, much enjoyed, love Dolly x
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Dolly! Your wonderful rating and comments are greatly valued. I'm particularly appreciative of your help with that line. I was so engrossed in getting the German right, my meter went out the window. I'll correct that now. Take care. Love Debbie x
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You are most welcome Debbie, the rating is well deserved x x x
Comment from Anne Theriault
Oh no, it's you again. You have the intellect and insight to pull out poems like this. I really enjoyed the story. An advanced, mature understanding of what ails the human heart. I can't even express with words, unfortunately, how good this poem is. Good rhythm and rhyme, and so, easy to read. Best of luck.
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Oh no, it's you again. You have the intellect and insight to pull out poems like this. I really enjoyed the story. An advanced, mature understanding of what ails the human heart. I can't even express with words, unfortunately, how good this poem is. Good rhythm and rhyme, and so, easy to read. Best of luck.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Anne, for your very generous and kind rating! You've really made my day with these lovely words, all greatly valued. Take care Debbie
Comment from oliver818
What a tough poem. Previous generations really went through hellish times, ww1 and 2, plus the rest. I also wrote a poem about this, about my grandfather. I guess it's normal to reflect on what we can't totally comprehend ourselves but which people we love went though. Thanks for sharing this
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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What a tough poem. Previous generations really went through hellish times, ww1 and 2, plus the rest. I also wrote a poem about this, about my grandfather. I guess it's normal to reflect on what we can't totally comprehend ourselves but which people we love went though. Thanks for sharing this
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much for your lovely rating and thoughtful comments! I think we just try and understand a little of what they went through watching films and reading books but we can never properly grasp it and we remain very fortunate as a result. Take care Debbie
Comment from royowen
My dad was a Dunkirk at the beginning of the war, he escaped back to England along with 300,000 others, to fight again, but your poor dad had a much more stressful time, he obviously got home, but a little worse for wear. Beautifully written Debbie, great job, blessings Roy horrible
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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My dad was a Dunkirk at the beginning of the war, he escaped back to England along with 300,000 others, to fight again, but your poor dad had a much more stressful time, he obviously got home, but a little worse for wear. Beautifully written Debbie, great job, blessings Roy horrible
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Roy, for your kind rating and thoughts! I think these days there would at least be so much more support available especially when such a mess was made in this particular mission which threw young soldiers right in the middle of a ring of German occupation. Bless you for your time! Take care Debbie
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Yep, foolish leadership can do that,
Comment from Lisasview
You wrote this wonderful heartwarming poem in just perfect way!!!
My husbands father was in that war and we have so many stories..
I just keep going back to reread it...
Really love this Debbie!!
Lisasview, new to the site
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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You wrote this wonderful heartwarming poem in just perfect way!!!
My husbands father was in that war and we have so many stories..
I just keep going back to reread it...
Really love this Debbie!!
Lisasview, new to the site
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Hi Lisa, thank you so much for your lovely rating and feedback! I only wish I'd tried to find out more - it might have helped if he'd had a son rather than 2 daughters. Take care Debbie
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That is always the issue... we do not get enough information when they are alive...
I just wrote a Romance story for the contest, did you read the final draft yet? and I so wish I knew more about my parents lives...when they first met..
LIsa
Comment from Sally Law
Virtual six for this one! A loving tribute through your father's eyes. What a tremendous trial her endured! I come from a military family so I know the sacrifices, the stiff upper lips, and soldiering on regardless. You have a real treasure here. Make sure you archive it for your children and grandchildren. Sending you my best today as always.
Sal XOs
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Virtual six for this one! A loving tribute through your father's eyes. What a tremendous trial her endured! I come from a military family so I know the sacrifices, the stiff upper lips, and soldiering on regardless. You have a real treasure here. Make sure you archive it for your children and grandchildren. Sending you my best today as always.
Sal XOs
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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What a lovely review, Sally! Thank you so much. I always appreciate all your kind thoughts. Take care Debbie
Comment from Rachelle Allen
Sorry; I'm out of sixes. This one sooo deserves one. Not just for the rhyming and rhythm, which are, as always, perfect [do you get SO sick of me saying that in every single review I ever write you?!] but also in the story you told.
My father-in-law was the same way about never sharing any of the stories from his time "over there." It was as if he were still protecting us from the evil. But, one day, during his last weeks on earth, I was visiting him in the hospital, and he started to cry and tell me some of the horrors he'd experienced during the war. It was as if he were unburdening himself. (I never told my husband; I felt his dad had imbued me with a bond of silence.) They were a REMARKABLE generation, and this poem pays homage to them all. Very well done.
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Sorry; I'm out of sixes. This one sooo deserves one. Not just for the rhyming and rhythm, which are, as always, perfect [do you get SO sick of me saying that in every single review I ever write you?!] but also in the story you told.
My father-in-law was the same way about never sharing any of the stories from his time "over there." It was as if he were still protecting us from the evil. But, one day, during his last weeks on earth, I was visiting him in the hospital, and he started to cry and tell me some of the horrors he'd experienced during the war. It was as if he were unburdening himself. (I never told my husband; I felt his dad had imbued me with a bond of silence.) They were a REMARKABLE generation, and this poem pays homage to them all. Very well done.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Your lovely rating and comments are more than enough here, Rachelle! I really appreciate your words and personal story and am delighted that the verse triggered a special memory for you. Thank you so much. Dx
Comment from RodG
Your poem is a powerful tribute to your father, a man who suffered greatly during WWII and learned to stifle whatever sorrow he might have felt. That last stanza is especially poignant. The cadence of your 4/3 stanzas is flawless. Rod
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
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reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Your poem is a powerful tribute to your father, a man who suffered greatly during WWII and learned to stifle whatever sorrow he might have felt. That last stanza is especially poignant. The cadence of your 4/3 stanzas is flawless. Rod
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Thank you so much, Rod! Your review is greatly appreciated. Take care Debbie
Comment from Paul Manton
Debbie! What have you done? This is a masterpiece!
If I had written this, I would frame it and hang it in the most prominent place in my house!
I wept when I read it - not only because of the story of this heroic man - but also because your verse has gone from good to outstanding - I couldn't hit the six button fast enough!
Iambic 4-3-4-3 rhythm - faultless; rhyme at opening aaba, later abac with occasional very well chosen half rhymes - again faultless.
I can't find highlights, Debbie - every verse is a highlight - and the last is utterly remarkable.
Now if you would only tell me where I can get those 'Dylan Thomas capsules . . '
Many congratulations and much love from Paul
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Debbie! What have you done? This is a masterpiece!
If I had written this, I would frame it and hang it in the most prominent place in my house!
I wept when I read it - not only because of the story of this heroic man - but also because your verse has gone from good to outstanding - I couldn't hit the six button fast enough!
Iambic 4-3-4-3 rhythm - faultless; rhyme at opening aaba, later abac with occasional very well chosen half rhymes - again faultless.
I can't find highlights, Debbie - every verse is a highlight - and the last is utterly remarkable.
Now if you would only tell me where I can get those 'Dylan Thomas capsules . . '
Many congratulations and much love from Paul
Comment Written 04-Jul-2023
reply by the author on 04-Jul-2023
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Well this has made my day, Paul! Thank you so much for such lovely comments. Your words are always greatly valued. Take care Debbie
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Best ever, Debbie!
Love from Paul
