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I have not written many poems like this one. (Most of my poetry ends up as songs!) This exception was inspired by a "memory flash" triggered on a bus in Beijing, when I was teaching English there in 1987. My dad and I didn't become "close knit" until after I was away from home at college. I guess I finally grew up enough to realize what treasures God had given me for parents. (I've long appreciated this quote from Mark Twain: "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much he had learned in 7 years.")

I am posting this poem here for several reasons: first, in honor of my dad's 67th birthday (September 2003); second, as an example of poetry for my students; and third, to remind myself that "making memories" with my own son is important!

Reminiscence

Connections…

Moved by a peanut still in its shell

     to a day

     a dad

Thirty thousand miles and fifteen years back in time.

“How do they get these things salty without opening them?”

     I can’t recall his answer.

The sound of the shell splitting

     signals

          the crack of the bat

          the roar of the crowd

          the fragrance of the freshly roasted nuts

               forever a favorite

               of a father

               taking time

               to make a memory.

Close knit? not really

     making such memories even more memorable.

          He was often too busy

          I too often disinterested

          --being different from my dad.

As time and travel take their toll

     which childhood treasures

     continue to touch and temper my life?

Not the tons of toys

          closets of clothes

          multitude of meals

          abundance of advice

     so much as the days, the hours,

     simply shared

          loving life

          sharing sunshine,

               smiles,

               and sometimes

          a pound of peanuts.

Michael Krigline, April 9, 1987 (Beijing)    www.krigline.com

© 1987 Michael Krigline, all rights reserved. As far as I am concerned, people are allowed to print/copy it for personal or classroom use.

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