Tag: Fathers

Fathers, May Today Shine on You

trE

I have love to give to the many fathers of this world, so here you go.

Photo by Unsplash+ via Unsplash

We are still here; amazed by your existence, charged by your love, and blessed to be in your presence.

For fathers who are fathering the lost, wayward, and weary. For fathers who Uncle their way around their nieces and nephews’ lives more like the ones who contributed to their lives than just the ones connected to them by blood. For fathers brothering their sisters and brothers on a higher scale than they should; around more than Daddy, himself . . .

We love you. We see you. We have no idea what your struggles entail, but we want you to know–what you are doing is not in vain.

To those of you holding on to memories of fathers who have found their way into heaven’s gates, may peace guide you and strengthen you throughout this weekend and the week ahead.

I can say, “I love you” to my dad whenever the sentiment strikes me, and that is an incredible blessing and I do not take it for granted.

Fathers, keep moving. Keep embracing the hearts of your children. Keep your eyes on God’s will for your life. Keep being the father many of us need and so many more of us want.

I assure you, none of it is in vain.

My dad, “Big Mike” & I from my most recent trip home to Savannah, Georgia this past April.

Fathers, You Are Loved.

trE

A free verse poem

Photo by Humphrey Muleba on Unsplash

And we may whisper
it from our pursed lips
on a rainy day while the
TV plays cartoons in
the background; “noise to
distract us from ourselves,”
only to be focused on you.

We haven’t forgotten. 
We assure you. 
We know how your strong
arms can lift us
beyond the stars.

We remember the tightness
of your embrace.
We can pinpoint the moment
you raged toward “21 questions”
when we brought some
new date home.

You are a young girl’s
first love.
You are a young boy’s
first hero.
You are the Boogeyman’s
Hitman for the little
ones who cry and coo
in their dark rooms.

It is imperative that you know
our lips will form to shape
the words, “Thank you” 
and our hearts will push
out three others; “I love you”,
as you sit back in your
favorite chair to soak
up the newness of another day
the world nearly ignores.

But please don’t forget,
we know how important you
are. We aren’t afraid
to show you. 
You are the present
a child waits to open
last.

Happy Father’s Day!

Originally published in A Cornered Gurl via Medium.

Happy Father’s Day

trE
Father’s Day Breakfast

I called my dad EARLY this morning to wish him a happy Father’s Day. I also made certain he knew I’d be emailing his poem to him. Recently, I shared We Don’t Want To Rewind Time on this blog, and the piece is actually doing very well across all writing platforms. I wanted/want him to know I’ll always have a place in my heart for him, and there will never be anything but love for me to share with him. Regardless of anything and everything else, there is love.

So, on this Father’s Day, I want to wish every father, caretaker, mentor, uncle, older cousin, and anyone who is giving their time, efforts, and love to a child or children of any age nothing but love and a beautiful day ahead.

For anyone remembering a father or fathers no longer here with us, I offer you peace and healing, and may there be happy memories for you to pull from your memory bank to reflect upon and embrace.

I am enjoying a lovely breakfast as my own personal gift to all of you by way of a happy tummy.

Peace and blessings!

We Don’t Want To Rewind Time

trE

And why would we?

Baby Tre and my dad, “Big Mike.” From the family archives.

A lone, baby girl — your first, sheltered in your embrace. 
You loved her. You love her. Old photos are passed
down through the hands of a younger
baby girl. You love her, too.

How have our memories been floating 
around the family tree making 
their way through our bloodline?

I look at this photo, it moves me.
I am centered and sure of myself
and happy. I knew I was safe in
one of my favorite places — my father’s arms.

Does your youngest know this, too?
If only we could rewind time but 
why would we? What would that accomplish?

There is an overaged pain that 
sneaks up on me and reminds me 
of better days but life isn’t 
too keen on rekindling old flames.

I have lost my fire.

But I look at this lone, baby girl 
and I remember being loved. 
I remember using your arm 
as my personal swing.

I remember learning how to swim 
and being tickled until 
my toes cramped from nonstop laughter.

I remember you. I remember you.

And I count it as a blessing 
there are still memories to recall 
of happier days when I was 
a lone, baby girl leaning 
into safe arms learning how to love.

©2022 Tremaine L. Loadholt

Father’s Day is fast approaching in the US, and I still can’t say some of the things I wish to say to my father without choking up but I can always tell him, “I love you,” because I do. And I always will. If you’re a father, may someone spill a little love down on you this coming weekend. Peace and blessings.

Originally published in soliloque via Medium.

To him who has my eyes . . .

trE

man carrying baby and kissing face
Photo by Zach Vessels via Unsplash

you were my first gift
the one I didn’t have to open
to see and feel how much
it would mean to me

the things a little girl yearns for
includes the comfort of a father’s
loving arms and I needed yours–
they were always there

we have had our moments
our fights
disagreements
instances of not wanting to
be wrong, yet we are
still stronger than our
last downfall

you, who has my eyes,
I owe you a debt
that can never be repaid–
I have this gift of life

because you gave it
to me

A very Happy Father’s Day to fathers young and old wise and not. We see you and we love you.

Not Like Fathers

trE

You Are Halves of Our Whole

Vishnu Nishad|Unsplash

To you, the fathers… It is often hard, I assume, to stand in the shadows of mothers as they take the glory of it all, and in most cases, rightfully so, but you… you wait patiently with no other means of celebration other than the one day designated where you may receive a few hugs, some decent gifts, a day out to your favorite restaurant, then time well-spent in your recliner. This is for you. Those yet still fathering, still yearning to love as they look at eyes that look back at them — identical in shape and color.

To you, fathers who stand beside their children, fighting for their rights in all things life-oriented, ensuring safety and love. To you, those of you afraid to reach out to take the hands of yours who have soared too high in the sky for you to be able to reach them and bring them back down to Earth. Fathers of prodigal sons and daughter still counting the days of their return; I offer you recognition and sincere adoration.

You are the halves of our whole and without you, there could be no us. Those of you trying harder than anyone can imagine and more than anyone can see, I tip my hat to you. Those of you struggling to make ends meet, constantly arguing with your children’s mother for the sake of their best interests— I hear you, I see you. To you, the fathers who cry when no one is around and pack in hurt after hurt and pained day after pained day, you are honored.

Fathers, do not let this day go by without attempting to learn, understand, care for, and love the ones who made you fathers. Start now, if you have not. For those of you fatherless and trying to father without the clear knowledge of the act — your children know that you are trying, even if they do not show it.

May this day be one to lift you up if you were feeling down and may love envelop you at every corner. Father is a forever word — a forever action. You will always be it.

From our small community to your hearts,
Happy Father’s Day.

Originally posted as a letter in A Cornered Gurl via Medium.