~Gene Wolfe
This week, I want to share something I made for my dad for Christmas. We always give homemade presents, in addition to store-bought ones, and in 2014, I gave him a coupon for putting together a book of his poetry myself. He gave me a manuscript of his poems over the course of 2015 and I gave him his book at Christmas 2015. So it was a two-year gift, really. He was very happy with it, and I thought y'all might like to know the name of the publisher, in case you wanted to make one yourself. I used Book Wright/Blurb.
Some sample pages from his book:
Note: I used Flickr photographs with Creative Commons licenses.
Thank you to Keri for hosting the Poetry Friday round-up today! And thank you to Pop for letting me share his book.
Wands up for Alan Rickman. Sigh.
Wow - beautiful all around; the poems, the photos you chose and lovingly paired with the words; the traditions between you and your dad! The title poem - so poignant and what we sure need more of in this world.
ReplyDelete(Humorous aside: I read the advice one without enlarging & thought at first that the line was, "Marrying makes us drop things...". ;0) )
And yes - wands raised. :0(
Oops - got that line wrong. "...can make you drop things." Like memory retention. And glasses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous gift. I love your dad's poetry! I've known for a while now he has great taste in music, but now I see that the writing talent has quite clearly been handed down as well. Wands up!
ReplyDeleteYour family is full of talent, Tabatha! I love your father's poetry - 5 lines say so much - and your choice of photo/layout. Wow. I especially like your father's poem about the radio dedication - sadly humorous.
ReplyDeleteWands up, between Bowie and Rickman, the Universe lost two gems. =)
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ReplyDeleteA father who writes poetry! What a doubly-blessed daughter! Not only did you grow up with a father who has poetic sensibilities & sensitivities, but you inherited those gifts and talents! Thank you and your father for making us beneficiaries of your shared goodness. My favorite line (especially inasmuch as I’m thinking DOM “Nothing” poem challenge), from [some advice passed on]: “Make your silences accurate.” Nothing speaks, paradoxically, as reprovingly or empathetically as so well-positioned silence. I can’t keep silent now: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! to both of you. p.s. I'm curious. Have you ever collaborated, composing poems for two voices?
ReplyDeleteWonderful, thoughtful gift, Tabatha. I love the poems and the photos you chose. I made a book of my "goodbye" poems that I've written all these years as we said goodbye to the grandchildren's ages, with different pictures. The books look so pretty. Your father must love the book you made.
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ReplyDeleteOh, I love do love the book. It is absolutely beautiful...one of the best presents I've ever received!
Oh! What a beautiful gift!
ReplyDeleteIt looks as if the book came out beautifully, Tabatha! I will be laughing about "don't squat with your spurs on" for a long time.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift - such a wonderful way of sharing your talents and your time with each other. I love the snippets you've shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to BookWright...looks like it might be the right place for some of my work!
ReplyDeleteLove your dad's advice poem. "Make your silences accurate." Powerful...especially for a teacher!
Me, too, on the "don't squat with your spurs on," but I especially like "on those sweetest of days." So gloriously affecting.
ReplyDeleteHere's to fat grey lines! This is so lovely -- what a special thing to share with your father. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful book, a treasure in so many ways. I love your dad's poetic voice. Your photo choices are spot on! xoxo
ReplyDeleteFabulous! I am so borrowing this idea, Tabatha! Love your dad’s poetry and love what you’ve done with it. Sure had to giggle at those spurs.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful gift! A friend of mine is using blurb to do a history of our church with images. I need to remember this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful gift, Tabatha! Priceless. (Love the photos you chose too. Very inviting to go along with the accessible poems.)
ReplyDelete"glorious menu of greys" - wow, Tabatha. This is a gorgeous gift. I love handcrafted, thoughtful presents myself - and this one is immensely precious, truly a labour of love. I hope that your father's book will be made available to even more people - I believe there is a lot to learn here about loving and living. :)
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