POETRY

Clutching at Threads

a Poem for My Dad

Photo by Richard Horvath on Unsplash

I painted my fingernails pink
for you

in my heart I knew
that somehow, you’d know
I’d get a manicure

you’ve drifted away
and now my hands
with their pink polished nails
are clutching at threads

threads of memories
father and daughter

threads of tender moments
joy and laughter
threads of love
and kindness
threads of good times

I’ll hang on to those threads

there are other threads, too
but those I’ll let slip away

now I sit at your funeral
looking down at my hands
and focus on my pink fingernails

knowing that they
would make you smile

After my dad died last March, I remembered the following poem I’d written. It brings me comfort; I hope it will for those of you who’ve lost a loved one, too.