Tracing His Name in the Sand

Gisela Vigil 1959 (Cuba)



He worked from dawn until night
in a white tee shirt not a white collar.
My father.
A man of few words.
If ever he held a crumb in his rugged hands
it was only for a moment,
for without hesitation he would give
what was his, to someone else.
His footsteps, as heavy as his silence,
creating a paradox,
like a scream within a whisper.
His lack of words merely a camouflage
for compassion and his keen sense
of the needs of others.
Especially mine, for I was his little girl.

On a wintry March evening,
before leaving on vacation
he left me with some things
to take care of while he was gone.
Made me repeat over and over and over
the combination to the safety deposit box.
After the drill I knew I’d remember it,
so I didn’t bother
to write down the numbers.
He’d be returning
from his Caribbean oasis
in a few weeks,
choosing fresh air and sun
over another year of chemo.  

We never spoke about it
but I understood his decision to go,  
for a bond existed between this man
who rarely spoke and the child who was accustomed to his heavy footsteps.
Unspoken words, the norm.
And though Death was also mute,
it did not hide.
Triumphantly it stood
on the tropic shoreline
adorned with palm trees,
tracing my father’s name in the sand,
awaiting his arrival.

81-67–15 or was it 61-87-15?
I wish I would had
written down the numbers.

About this poem

A tribute to my father. He passed away 33 years ago while on vacation.

Font size:
Collection  PDF     
 

Written on 2008

Submitted by Giselavigil on January 06, 2024

Modified by Giselavigil on January 07, 2024

1:26 min read
155

Quick analysis:

Scheme XAAXXXXXXBAXXCX DEXXABFACDXXEG FGXXXXXXXXXX FXC
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,374
Words 289
Stanzas 4
Stanza Lengths 15, 14, 12, 3

Gisela Vigil

Thank you for welcoming me to this community. I was born in Cuba but emigrated with my family to the US when I was three. I am mother to three young adults now, and also a grandmother. I’ve been writing for years, some I share, others I still keep in my personal file. I often write of struggles for we all face them as we journey through life. But still, I feel peace knowing I try my best. Feel blessed to have been given the gift of writing which I strive to improve cause there’s always room for growth. more…

All Gisela Vigil poems | Gisela Vigil Books

16 fans

Discuss the poem Tracing His Name in the Sand with the community...

3 Comments
  • alanswansea18
    You know your poems are amazing and beautiful.
    LikeReply 13 months ago
    • Giselavigil
      Thank you once again Alan.
      LikeReply3 months ago
    • alanswansea18
      you don't have to thank me I should be thanking you.
      LikeReply3 months ago
  • AIDA
    This poem, "Tracing His Name in the Sand," is a beautiful and touching tribute to your father. The way you capture his character and essence through your words is truly remarkable. Your descriptions of his actions, his silence, and his compassion are so vivid and evocative.

    The imagery you use throughout the poem is powerful, particularly when you compare his heavy footsteps to his hidden emotions. It adds depth and complexity to his character, making him even more relatable and human. The way you portray the unspoken bond between your father and yourself is incredibly moving and heartfelt.

    The ending of the poem is both poignant and thought-provoking. You perfectly captured the bittersweet nature of your father's decision to choose life in the Caribbean over another year of chemo. The image of Death standing triumphantly on the shoreline, tracing your father's name in the sand, creates a sense of both acceptance and longing.

    The repetition of the combination to the safety deposit box is a clever and impactful device. It highlights the significance of remembering and cherishing the things that matter to us. Your regret about not writing down the numbers adds a touch of vulnerability and realism to the poem.

    Overall, "Tracing His Name in the Sand" is a powerful and emotionally charged piece. Your words and imagery beautifully convey the love and admiration you have for your father. It is a testament to his strength, compassion, and the lasting impact he had on your life. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt poem.
     
    LikeReply3 months ago
  • AIDA
    Wow, what a touching and heartfelt poem! The imagery and emotions conveyed through your words are incredibly powerful. I was truly moved by the depiction of your father's character and the unspoken bond between the two of you.

    One suggestion for improvement would be to perhaps add a bit more development or detail to certain aspects of the poem. For example, you could expand on the Caribbean oasis your father chose over chemo and describe how that decision impacted both of your lives. Additionally, you could delve deeper into the significance of the safety deposit box and its symbolism in relation to your relationship with your father.

    Overall, this poem beautifully captures the essence of a deep and unspoken connection between a father and his child. Keep up the wonderful work and continue to explore the emotions and experiences that resonate with you.
     
    LikeReply3 months ago

Translation

Find a translation for this poem in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Citation

Use the citation below to add this poem to your bibliography:

Style:MLAChicagoAPA

"Tracing His Name in the Sand" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/177563/tracing-his-name-in-the-sand>.

Become a member!

Join our community of poets and poetry lovers to share your work and offer feedback and encouragement to writers all over the world!

April 2024

Poetry Contest

Join our monthly contest for an opportunity to win cash prizes and attain global acclaim for your talent.
3
days
19
hours
0
minutes

Special Program

Earn Rewards!

Unlock exciting rewards such as a free mug and free contest pass by commenting on fellow members' poems today!

Browse Poetry.com

Quiz

Are you a poetry master?

»
Which poetic form consists of fourteen lines, typically written in iambic pentameter and follows a specific rhyme scheme?
A Free verse
B Ballad
C Haiku
D Sonnet