HALLMARK MOMENTS THAT NEVER WERE

Hallmark Moments

that never were

I had a Hallmark moment once

With my dad....................

The trouble is, I don't remember it

And looking at this photo here

We both looked scared too death

Of one another.........so.....

What is it

I am supposed to remember

And would I want to remember

Anything if I could?

And I wonder what it was

That he remembered about me
In the long icy years 
Before he passed from this life?

I remember my Pa, my daddy's daddy

And how much fun we had together

And how he laughed at all my antics

As we went fishing or riding

Or  just to the store
Where he'd buy me Grapettes and candy 

And I'd always want more.

I remember horses and cattle barns and sawdust at auctions

And how excited they'd be cause they thought it was slick

When I'd run down and do my "horse whisperer" trick

Coming home with a truck full and most of them, free

Cause they couldn't be tamed by nobody but me.

I remember playing cowboys and indians

And robbers and cops

Setting the sawmill on fire with my little friend, Eddie

 And how bad we felt

When the whole thing went up.

I remember I loved all the animals

And they all loved me

But I really loved horses

And I hadn't a care

I would sneak out and sleep in the stables beside them

And Mama would scream when she found me there.

I remember Mama's song writing

And singing and ironing

Her fried chicken and biscuits

And Ma's apple cakes 

The country way Ma talked

Calling asparagus "Sparegrass"

And it was embarrassing to us kids

But boy, she could bake!

I remember the creek and the bridge

And the swimming hole in summer

Sitting on the stock-gap and up in the trees
Playing circus and clowns
With my brothers and sisters

Writing poetry for hours

'Bout the birds and the bees.

I remember sharing Ma's secrets

And going through her treasures 

Stealing chocolate covered cherries
That she thought I couldn't see

And how she would rail then

But she knew it was me.

I remember pet cats and dogs 

And squirrels and horses

Rabbits and pigs

And geese and goats

Cows and chickens

That Pa sold me for pennies

Like peacocks and turtles

But I hated the guineas.

I remember Mama dressing up

In outrageous costumes

Coming round to the door

And fooling our dad

Who thought she was a stranger

And how we all laughed

But he never saw funny, he always got mad.

I remember  gallons of ice cream and Ma's baby brother

Visiting the kinfolk that lived far off a ways

Working hard in the summer and sneaking off on Ole Dan

Riding up in the hills and staying all day.

I remember a lot of things

And some of them good

But most times were bad

Just because of my Dad

And to make a bad rhyme here:

That is so sad.

I wish I could remember him loving me 
Like a daddy should love

His own little girl

And him making me giggle

And buying me toys

But all I remember is his sad, angry world.

And in light of that memory

I've tried to make all my life

One big Hallmark moment

In the joy and the strife.........

And sometimes, I failed

And sometimes I succeeded 

But there have been many and I'm proud of that.

©By Voo 

June 17, 2017

10:47 p.m.

dedicated to Fathers everywhere

Please make happy times

For your kids to remember

For after all,

what else is left of you when you go
but the memories?

                                                         Remember by Sarah Mc Lachlan

Giving Away  Laughter by John Trudell