The T.V. in the Basement
Poetry for Father's Day
What is it you want to tell Dad --that you couldn't say?
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
Last night, the basement buzzedβ
Not lizards, not rats
But your old T.V.
Tuned to a channel with no signal.
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
We hardly spoke to each other,
Words packed in my boxes,
Sharp, taped shut.Β
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
Still, I pressed my ears
Against the door
For your laugh.
Dust and rust cloaked it all,
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
But the remote,Β
Still clicking,
Set to your favourite show.
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
I remained,
Listening,
Until a voice,
Yours
Said, "You came back."
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
You told me
"Don't surrender to silence."
Perhaps I broke it
And won.
π¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈπ¬πβ€οΈβπ©Ήπ¨βπ§πΊπ οΈπ¦π»π§°π§ββοΈ
This is for Mikeydred's June Challenge -do visit this fabulous author here.
About the Creator
Michelle Liew Tsui-Lin
Hi, i am an English Language teacher cum freelance writer with a taste for pets, prose and poetry. When I'm not writing my heart out, I'm playing with my three dogs, Zorra, Cloudy and Snowball.
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Comments (4)
π©·
When I was a child, I thought my father was supreme, untouchable, and I revered him. Then I grew up...and ever since, I am trying to recapture some of that magic in him.
Aww very touching and sweet.
This made me think about father-child relationship, Michelle. Inspirational indeed.