When driving, I keep my eyes on the road. I might occasionally steal a glance in my rearview mirror- and certainly NEVER stare behind me. That ought to be how we live- facing the future-otherwise you’re bound to crash. Having said that, our past shapes us and there are memories there that we don’t leave behind. Rather than gaze in our rearview mirrors at comforting memories, I’d like to think we bring them along with us. This one’s about my dear Daddy- he was (and still is) my rock. Now remember: face forward!
Coming home from school
unpacking my bags
searching for food
while sweet mummy mends my slacks
I nod and ‘umm’ distractedly
at the questions about my day
I didn’t know time would speed up
that I would one day grow up and away
“Daddy’s home!” I cry
his stubbly chin tickles me to bliss
He smells of work and the pipe
-a smell I would one day sorely miss
©Vivian Zems
Real Toads– Homecoming
Smell The Coffee 
December 6, 2018 at 11:32 pm
We never realize how swiftly those days will be gone. The same thing happens when we are the parents, during the busy years with children – how swiftly they are grown and gone……….with children of their own,………I loved this, Vivian.
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December 7, 2018 at 3:56 am
I lost my Daddy in 1958 at the tender age of 16. I still remember standing by our back door waiting for his return from work ~ and, yes I loved feeling those stubbles on his chin when he gave me a bear hug hello! This is so beautifully done. Thank you,
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December 7, 2018 at 5:28 am
A lovely poem for old memories.
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December 7, 2018 at 5:37 am
We drag those old memories but they won’t let go. Asleep maybe but they wake up. Trust now, it can come back but will take a long time coming to stay. Been there.
..
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December 7, 2018 at 8:05 am
I bet some days you can still smell his pipe.
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December 7, 2018 at 3:06 pm
“facing the future-otherwise you’re bound to crash” … This is so true.
“while sweet mummy mends my slacks
I nod and ‘umm’ distractedly” … I love this part, and Daddy’s stubbly chin tickles.
This instantly takes me back to my grandparents, for some reason, not my parents. I guess because of the mending.
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December 7, 2018 at 7:58 pm
So glad you liked it😊
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December 7, 2018 at 9:23 pm
I have memories of my dad smoking a pipe. We don’t think about loss when we the smell of tobacco smoke is home.
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December 8, 2018 at 9:20 am
Almost every man smoked when we were young although women less so. As soon as we left school we had to have a go! Luckily I didn’t really take to it but both my father and brother died with smoking the main cause. I too would delight in greeting dad home from work to tell him what I had been up to.
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December 8, 2018 at 2:11 pm
It is so true that certain scents tap into memory. I cannot smell tobacco smoke without seeing my grandfather’s face.
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December 8, 2018 at 2:32 pm
It’s lovely to have such memories of your dad Vivian. Scents are so powerful.
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