From across the room John had watched. He saw not a little girl, nor her mother and his wife waring Kyra. Instead, as if the scene entire moved the clouds from his mind and heart and soul, and for the first time saw a sun shinning bright, and as one is thunderstruck with the realization of a truth that has always been front and center but never awared (my coined word--a play on "waring" taken from the root "awareness"), John saw purpose and meaning upon the stage that had not existed in the mirror since the passing of Cait.
He moved toward the stage, not of mind but of heart; and his step was not as steps, of lifting and falling, of foot and floor, but of a gravitational pull, a pull a thousand Johns, with all their muscle and sinew, with all their sweat and labor, could not have resisted. Upon that stage stood his world spinning him toward her as surely as the earth spins the moon. As he walked across the stage from left to right, Ariel turned toward his large puppy dog eyes. As Rog, before, John knelt and the crew watched a private moment on a public stage as words were whispered and the anxious mien of a diminutive angel transformed into a smile.
Taking the mic from his daughter, John, on bended knee with Ariel perched upon, said, "I've asked Ariel to join me in this next song." John paused as if to find composure as he felt what was behind him and what was before was as the dusk to dawn; and in the morning stillness, where the sun silently kisses the morning dew (aloetic meadows of shinning green swords), his palm sweaty and his knee lightbulb warm, began to sing.
Father and Daughter
(song and lyrics by Paul Simon)
If you leap awake
In the mirror of a bad dream
And for a fraction of a second
You can't remember where you are
Just open your window
And follow your memory upstream
To the meadow in the mountain
Where we counted every falling star
I believe the light that shines on you
Will shine on you forever
And though I can't guarantee
There's nothing scary hiding under your bed
I’m gonna stand guard
Like a postcard of a Golden Retriever
And never leave till I leave you
With a sweet dream in your head
I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you
Trust your intuition
It's just like going fishing
You cast your line
And hope you'll get a bite
But you don't need to waste your time
Worrying about the market place
Try to help the human race
Struggling to survive its harshest night
I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you
I'm gonna watch you shine
Gonna watch you grow
Gonna paint a sign
So you'll always know
As long as one and one is two
There could never be a father
Who loved his daughter more than I love you
When the last note settled upon the liquid eyes sitting still like frogs in a predawn lake, Ariel leaned over and whispered in her daddy's ear, "I wanna hold your hand."
29 comments:
There is Love and there is everything NotLove. All the world is either one or the other.
*sob*
You are making my eyes leak again!
Naughty man.
Tree, I sure do wish Strumpet's World was a lot more like your Story!
It's filled with so much love and so many wondrous things.
Probably why it's too much fun to read sometimes.
It definitely takes me to a place where I would love to be.
xo, Mr. Tree, xo
Join me Miladysa and we'll cry happy tears together. :-)
Strumper, I feel the exact same way. If you don't have the world you want, create it. I suppose, in certain ways, that is what this story is--the world I find love and comfort.
I saw your comments on my friend Victoria's blog, so thought I would check out your blog. Congratulations on the distinction of having been chosen as a 'blog of note'. Love the song in "As Long As One and One is Two". I'll be checking back often.
GHM, thank you for those kind words. Any friend of Victoria's is a friend of mine. You are welcome here anytime. :-)
wow! you man are a good writer! have you considered copyrwriting your work? keep up the vivid descriptions we love it!!! i'd be honored for you check out my blog: journey4answers.blogspot.com
oh I just saw it was copyrighted, :P i have eyes, really i do.
Thank you Unlikelyhero. :-)
Entire, :-), noticed that before, love that you use that. Such joy you create with this story, I've never found a way to tell you, not properly, crying and smiling and wanting to sing and shout and dance and laugh at John's eyes being opened and the manner in which you created that, through her gesture to her mother, her showing of love, and the clouds lift to show him that he still has Ariel, they still have each other. Beautiful choice of song. Your writing is so wonderful, beautiful and joyous and a treat to read, in particular here the part where he sees her clearly once again, as one knew, or at least hoped that one knew, he would one day, when the grief's fog had lifted, one just hoped it would be sooner rather than later, Ariel needs him and he needs her and now they once again have the other entire. :-)
Beautifully written and so very endearing, smiles and tears once again, your words are like Ceru's except yours are like being embraced, being surrounded, being immersed. Can't stop smiling, knowing Cait will be smiling too. Now take that small gush and times it by a couple of thousand and you will have some idea of how brilliant this chapter shone.
Sweetest, I woke up this morning, and before I could pour my coffee this chapter came out. I knew a few days ago that John might sing this song, but I didn't know when or if and I didn't know how I would set it up or what would be said or not said. Like most of my chapters, they seem to write themselves and then when I am fully awake, the creative flow slows.
This chapter, on second draft, as they all could, could be tighter and better, but I will admit, the metaphors I chose for his awakening, I would not change. Still peeved no one commented on the sun into the cat's belly one on the post below--I thought that was brilliant. ROFLMAO! :-D
I'm not sure how many more of these gut-wrenching chapters I can write. Four in a row and I'm running on empty. Then again, don't take long to fill up either. :-D
As always Sweetest, your engaged comments are the highlight of my day. Thank you.
..."and his knee lightbulb warm...."
Very nice.
Angela, thank you for noticing that one. :-D
I have watched my man with his little girls for years. It is tender and wordless. There is a sadness of late as he looks at them. he sees me
Jennifer, I understand completely. Watching your kids grow up and then leave home is hard. I've got two out of the house and one about to turn 14. Somewhere between 8th and 9th grade, they change--like clockwork.
Sweet! The everything NotLove strives to take over the world of Love but in the end Love must triumph. Love is the Key.
where is the credit to Paul Simon for the song?
On the video as soon as it starts playing. But, you are right, I should add a credit into the text. Thank you for bringing that to my attention.
Daddy's and their daughters. this sort of thing always makes me cry. It is so sweet.
Marsha, after looking over your blog and that wonderful video of the family, I can understand fully why you might feel this way. :-)
Thanks for stopping by. Visitors are always welcomed here. :-)
"If you don't have the world you want, create it."
Oh, I so do this; it really works. Wonderful chapters Trée.
Thanks Deb. Always nice to see you stopping by. :-)
I found your blog just recently, and thus have much catching up to do.
But.....even though I rarely read for pleasure online, your writing drew me in, captured my interest, and my heart. :)
I love the world that you have created......it takes me away.
Nicole, if my story can do that, then I feel like I'm on the right track. So nice to see you stopping by and please don't be a stranger. Thank you for the very kind words. Always appreciated. :-)
that is one beautiful song! I stole it from your site a couple of days ago for someone I know...
Sure does make one teary...
Mona, videos like this one just make you want to have babies, lots of 'em. Or at least try, a lot. :-D
This was a beautiful composition. You made me cry both times i read it. It's not often that i get an emotional reaction from reading so i want to thank you for bringing some happy joy to my day with your inspiring writing. Keep up the good work. Wishing you the best and lots of happiness.
Anon, thank you for that very, very nice and heartfelt comment. Thank you. :-)
Post a Comment