"When My Dad Goes" a poem by Jess Coffman

When My Dad Goes


When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who ever asked to brush my hair. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who let me sleep in his armpit.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who woke me up before the sun. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who made a maple bar taste like love.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
I ever hugged on a motorcycle. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who sacrificed, so I could dance. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who really wanted to put me first. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
to look at me with overwhelming love.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
to tip me 100 percent on his lunch bill.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
to sing Christmas Carols on my answering machine. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who told me I could do or be anything.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
I tell I love, but rarely see. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love,
with the courage to live differently. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love, 
despite our differing points of view.  

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who loves me for my strength. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love, 
who told me he was proud of me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who cried at the National Anthem.

When my Dad goes, he'll the only man I knew,  
who lived for the fight. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew 
who didn't give a shit, what others thought.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who made baby-back ribs taste like love. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who "bad-danced" better than me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man 
who showed me God in nature.

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew, 
who ever offered to protect me. 

When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I've loved my whole life. 

Jess Coffman

Hello Friends!

"When My Dad Goes," is a poem that is inspired by the expertly crafted and tremendously evocative film, "Everybody's Fine." Robert De Niro steals your heart as he plays the calm and calculated widower "Frank Goode" who sets out on a journey across the country to visit with his children. I pretty much cried for the entire 2 hours that it took me to watch and recover from the movie. I completely identified with this story, in the sense that I have a strong, hard-working, proud, sometimes lonely, father trying to connect with his children who are spread out across the country. "Frank Goode" has many set-backs emotionally and physically in the film, but eventually he acquires a rather sad and honest connection with his children. 

I called my Dad at one point when I took an emotional break from the film, to tell him how much I loved him. After our brief and lovely conversation, where my Dad reassured me that he missed me and he was proud of me, I began to write this poem. I don't believe that there are any perfect children or any perfect parents, and though my childhood was complicated, I am so blessed to have the parents that I do. This poem is a celebration of a few wonderful details explaining why I love and appreciate my Dad so much. I hope it inspires you to call a relative today, and tell them how important they are to you. 

Have a blessed day!

Jess 

P.S. Check out this youtube video of my Dad "bad-dancing" called "Zumba Dad Killin It!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZjbUMfpuBE

"Winter in New York" a poem by Jess Coffman

Expectation has captured me like a fish on a hook.
Choking on what feeds me, I can't wriggle myself free.
Bound by the Guilt of not becoming what everyone wants 
me to Be. 

I've felt the Sun Shine in my chest,
And I chase that feeling like a child,  
An eager child,
Who flips and sings so you won't forget she's special.
The Warmth is real, but slowly dying out with the fading light.
The Cold is creeping, clawing in, and I haven't been feeling alright.

Like a stressful game of "Hot Potato,"
Where I'm the single player,
I'm running in circles, 
Trying to keep my dreams up, off the floor.
Struggling to give them life, 
As they begin to fall. 
Praying that the music won't stop, 
Not knowing sometimes why I do it at all. 

I've worked so hard to convince myself
That I have something to believe in. 
But no one cares to hear my voice, 
I'm unsuccessful not by choice.

But, I'm no longer jealous of those at the top,
Whose lives are what I once wanted.
I just want the sunshine back in my heart,
I just want to love my days and not fall apart.

Though no one talks of lifelong dreams that should be given up.
There's too much shame, too much blame and precious time wasted. 
We're convinced we're Nothing without them, 
And we can't bare to face it.   
Like an abused lover we hold ourselves, 
Making excuses for our pain.
We take the punches, 
Remembering better days, 
Praying for them again.

But if you cry more than you bellow with laughter, 
If you give your love and they never take,
If your smile is relentlessly forced and fake,
Without shame,
With Belief,
It's time for a new dream. 

Jess Coffman 

Happy President's Day! I am taking the Founding Fathers lead and finding myself today. I'm ready to establish a new nation, I'm throwing away rules that I once had for myself that haven't worked up to this point. I am working on not feeling guilty for past dreams that have not come to fruition. Instead, I am seeking out some old and some new activities, and only those people who help to spark my inner light. I know that I am responsible for keeping that light shining, and I have let it go out for the last time! If this means my pursuits in life have to change completely, then so be it! "This Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Let it Shine!" Who's With Me?!