Poems as Prayers #1 - "Father/Falter"

Read, Reflect, Respond

The author, age 5 (?) Redondo Beach CA

Father/Falter is the first poem selected for a work in progress I'm calling “Poems as Prayers—52 Reflections for Response.” The collection will include poems from my two books, Hearts on Pilgrimage: Poems & Prayers and Mining the Bright Birds: Poems of Longing for Home, as well as previously unpublished poems and those that have been featured elsewhere. The idea behind publication of Poems as Prayers is to offer readers a volume of poetry combined with reading and reflection for weekly quiet times, inviting readers who wouldn’t ordinarily consider poems to make friends with poetry. Nothing would make me happier.

So~in total there will be 52 poems, one per week and voila! when we’re finished, there’ll be enough poems and reflections for a book. Maybe? We shall see.

Each week's post will include:

• A POEM, of course

• BEHIND THE SCENES of writing and a reflection

• A QUESTION for you to ponder

• AN INVITATION to respond in your journal (or here in the community)

Week One Poem

Father/Falter¹

Sunday nights I’d feign sleep carpetside surrounded by siblings,

television three feet away. The Wonderful World of Disney faded

from the screen, its signature theme song ebbing beneath

the waves of my almost-dreams. I wanted to be held,

carried in the bridge of my father’s arms, close

in those moments of me-only-and-no-one-else, praying

the memory would stay more than skin deep.

My pretensions often worked, the bridge holding

but only just. His reach slowly gave way

and memories vanished as lost years spanned

the distance between each shore.

Slowly he lost sight of us, gaze leading him away,

ambling towards other arms.

Out of reach and across the years, he turned

towards a home not ours, holding only himself

and a broken heart.

He never crossed over again.

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• BEHIND THE POEM & REFLECTION

I was five years old when our father left home—my brother was four, my sister two. I may have mixed my memories together in the poem above; memoir does that. Recollections weave themselves together with our emotions and the jumble creates something altogether different… was The Wide World of Disney on TV in 1957? Maybe.

I am grateful God has been faithful to remind me He will never leave or abandon me; He is the complete opposite of my Father—all love, always present and eager to know me. I missed a lot as a little girl without a Dad and it is okay to say so. It doesn’t lessen God’s goodness in any way but acknowledges His great and tender care as He walks with me through the healing of those years.

And writing about it helps.

• QUESTION TO PONDER

How have your ideas about God been impacted by your relationship with your Father?

OR

Which words phrases or lines in the poem resonate with you?

Take some time to sit with the questions and listen. I'm confident the Holy Spirit will bring things to the surface and discoveries will rise. Write down what you hear in your journal. Or maybe you're feeling inspired to write a poem.

Whatever you choose, whether you write in private or share in the Comments, I would love to hear what resonated with you.

Thank you for being part of the Poetry & Made Things community.

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Have you heard? NEW FOR PAID SUBSCRIBERS:

Monthly Zoom Meet-ups—“Thinking Poetically”

As an added layer of ‘thank you’ for everyone who is a paid supporter, I will be offering exclusive access once a month for a “Thinking Poetically” Zoom call. Meetings will be an hour long and provide connection, inspiration and encouragement for all participants.

• This is not me teaching but everyone sharing; I will simply facilitate and guide.

• You can bring a poem to share—one you’ve written or read

• Read a favorite passage from a current book you’re reading.

• Or bring your writing questions to brainstorm.

• We will see where the conversation takes us.

Calls will be recorded (with everyone’s permission); replays will also be available for a fee. (Still working that out.) Subscribers can also join the call for a one time fee (TBD) if you’d rather not become a regular supporter.

So~Got a second for this quick poll?

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ARE YOU IN?

Can’t commit to monthly support? You can always buy me a coffee… Just click on the button below!

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Until next week, I look forward to your connection in the Comments or simply hit ‘Reply’ to this email.2

God bless,

Jody

1. From Hearts on Pilgrimage Poems & Prayers, published 2021, available on Amazon. Readers who have been following my work for awhile may also recognize this poem from my author website or a post here on Substack in June of 2024.