Free verse № 59586
The Belgian Bookworm [revised]
Papa, how I miss you,
as I sit alone with a glass of wine.
Summer Home Sauvignon Blanc,
the drink you always favored.
I swirl the glass
thinking of the times
you would sit at the head
of our table while enjoying
a plate of your famous Belgian spaghetti.
You would hold a Gittane cigarette
in your left hand between your index
and middle finger, your palm holding up
your head.
Your face would be in a book
as you slowly ate.
Michael Crichton, Dick Francis,
Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy-
Just a few of your favorite authors
in your large library.
Blue-grey eyes would be hidden
behind thick glasses as you
quickly scanned the pages
line for line.
Your mind leisurely digested the words
with a silent appreciation.
Every few minutes you'd take a pause
to graciously lift your chilled glass,
and slowly sip the liquor.
I would observe you turning the pages,
wondering what your imagination was cooking
as it was immersed in your latest book of worship.
I recall how annoyed you would get
when I asked what you were reading.
Your answers would inspire
a whole set of new questions.
Your patience was tested
as you calmly answered each one.
Learning quickly, I made sure
not to disturb you in your pure adoration
of fiction.
My eyes stare now at that empty chair;
your jeweled throne.
My ears miss the sound
of your quiet turning of pages,
and the gentle chimes
of ice colliding with glass
in that grapey ocean.
My soul misses the
wine that you sipped in
modest amounts, that bitter
royal beverage.
11 comments
He introduced me to Clive and I am also an avid reader of his writing, he also directed me to the great works of Jean M Auel, Jonathan Kellerman, and many other wonderful authors.
I remember when i was eight, my school had this reading contest and he inspired me to read white fang.. since then i was addicted to reading, he was quite proud of it.. hrmm.. memories.. i miss that old man..
Thanks for the vote and comment, glad you enjoyed it.
in that grapy ocean" I would consider rewording this with an emphasis on losing grapy and ocean.
"Your face would be in a book
as you slowly ate.
Michael Crichton, Dick Francis,
Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy-
Just a few of your favorite authors
in your large library." Hee he, you are a riot! yes, the library... Sounds stocked from rafters to sagging bottom shelf with such power hitters as Sidney Sheldon and Dean Koontz with a dash of Ken Folliet. You are too cute.
Great title.
btw, whats wrong with grapy ocean? ;/ i liked that line too... -sigh- well, do you have a suggestion of what would replace that perhaps?
as I sit alone with a glass (of wine.)
((of)) summer Home Sauvignon Blanc,
the drink you always favored.
Your face would be in a book
as you slowly ate.
Michael Crichton, Dick Francis,
Clive Cussler, and Tom Clancy-
(Just a few of your favorite authors
in your large library.)
Blue-grey eyes would be hidden
behind thick glasses as you
quickly scanned the pages
(line for line.)
(Your mind) leisurely digested ((ing)) the words
with a silent appreciation.
I recall how annoyed you would get
when I asked what you were reading.
Your answers would inspire
a whole set of new questions.
Your patience (was) tested
as you calmly answered each one.
Learning quickly, I made sure
not to disturb you in your pure adoration
of fiction.
My eyes stare now at that empty chair;
your jeweled throne.
My ears miss (the sound
of) your quiet turning of pages,
and the gentle chimes
of ice colliding with glass
in that grapey ocean.
My soul misses the
wine that you sipped in
modest amounts, that bitter
royal beverage.
the single brackets I put in are lines that don't really add anything. The are redundant.
The double brackets suggestions to add.
When I say tighten what I mean is make the poem shorter so that every line is forced to extract the maximum poetic value.
Bear in mind though that with brevity you sometimes sacrifice clarity.
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