Remittal
Remittal
Dear father,
who is in heaven
if heaven is as hallowed
as they say.
I miss you and remiss you
every day,
meaning that
I miss you again
and again
but still spend
myself
as if time were money,
a currency that could be
accumulated, counterfeit,
newly engraved;
ever asking you,
who knew better,
to help me stop.
*******************************
A sort of poem for Grapeling’s prompt on With Real Toads to “get listed.” In this prompt, Grapeling asks us to use homonym-type words or words that have different meanings. I hate to direct interpretations of a poem but I’m including the word father as one of these, as I feel like the poem is directed more to my personal father than a grander one, but not sure that meaning comes across. The above photo is not really synced to the poem, but was taken recently at my house in upstate New York. This is a second story room, ice on the windows–you can see a speck of tree at the top.
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Tags: manicddaily, missing remissing poem, no new time to be printed poem, no time like the present poem, poem to father, remittal poem
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ManicDDaily 
February 20, 2015 at 9:49 am
ah, perhaps he will help us stop spending ourselves…
at least frivolously….
February 20, 2015 at 11:35 am
I really like the last four lines. And I knew where you were going with this before you explained it in the second half of the poem. I mentally inserted a hyphen immediately when I read the line, “I miss you and re-miss you.” Losing parents is one of the most ongoing pains one can ever know. It’s a pain, I think, that must increase in intensity as time goes on. I don’t imagine one can heal from such a loss, but only force herself to go on. What other choice is there?
February 20, 2015 at 11:45 am
Yes–maybe there should be a hyphen. But will leave as is for now. Thanks. k.
February 20, 2015 at 11:46 am
Oh, I was suggesting you add one. I like the way you have it, allowing it to go either way for a moment. I was just telling you what my brain was doing. 🙂
February 20, 2015 at 11:47 am
Oops. I mean I wasn’t suggesting you add a hyphen.
February 20, 2015 at 12:10 pm
Thanks–no worries. I was just thinking that it may make sense. K.
On Fri, Feb 20, 2015 at 11:47 AM, ManicDDaily wrote:
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February 20, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Love this! Father / your father either way it works.
February 20, 2015 at 1:01 pm
that first line instantly made me wonder.. “if heaven is as hallowed as they say” are such powerful words.
There is a touch of insight in your verse which lies in the shadow of a silent prayer.
Beautiful.
-HA
February 20, 2015 at 2:04 pm
This does read like a private prayer or conversation with one who has passed away – but the very universal nature of such thought and intention makes this poem ever-relevant to adult children who have lost a parent.
February 20, 2015 at 2:34 pm
A great simplicity to this k, which helps add to the mystery of where our love, time and even money go which we spend so constantly–and yes, the sense of loss and of the missing, remissing and remitting, comes through most beautifully I think.
February 20, 2015 at 3:29 pm
The shortness of this poem make it all the stronger. Who will ever tell which paths that loss will leas us?
February 21, 2015 at 2:27 am
k, the little clues you leave (Dear, rather than Our, father, and the 3rd line) paint the personal while allowing the celestial (as it were). the close is so intimate, and true. glad that added your voice ~
February 21, 2015 at 6:44 am
I read the poem as the prayer like the ice on that window — so close but infinitely far — asking for a father’s blessing to stop missing a father so, because such grief is too extravagant. Yes.
February 21, 2015 at 7:47 am
nice one K, luv your start up line, we have all been there, the questioning, the equating “if” then …
http://myblog-verses.blogspot.com/2015/02/25.html
much love…
February 21, 2015 at 7:49 am
but still spend
myself
as if time were money… that part stuck out for me… think there’s a good way of spending ourselves – of giving ourselves away… and what should we safe us for – the best things in life multiply when shared
February 21, 2015 at 12:12 pm
MD, thanks for visiting me! I wanted to try the Get Listed prompt but was nowhere near ready. This is wonderful. The “still spending myself,” that is great writing. The “miss and remiss” concept nailed with your usual cleverness and stealth. Congrats! Amy
February 21, 2015 at 5:40 pm
father with a lower case (I got it wasn’t God) – and the sentiment and plea are very moving.
February 22, 2015 at 10:31 am
It did come across. The fact that your poem was directed at a more personal father. Lovely rhythm. It actually reads like a hymn, although that might have to do more with my way of reading poetry. Thanks.
Greetings from London.