The Painter
For my father
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/d_642250b563292b35f27461a7.png,f_jpg,fl_progressive,q_auto,w_1024/655b9fa6ecaa89001dc39bec.jpg)
With bold, unwavering strokes
Of tinted shades, carefully mixed,
Covering top to bottom
Smooth paint on rough walls
A hobby, a profession, our father –
He painted our lives.
Old brushes, lovingly wrapped in paper
Each brush with a purpose
Fine, broad, stain, finishing
Each imprinting its own design
A swirl, a sparkle, a careful touch-up
Each marked with every color ever used –
He painted our lives.
He protected the ground
Our foundation, our past
Canvases wide, speckled with splashes of color,
Spread over valued items of daily life,
Keeping the workspace clean
Prepping saving valuable time –
He painted our lives.
The finished result: three rooms,
Two blue, one pink –
Glossy, seamless, flowing;
Beautiful, detailed, unique
Pleasant places, spectacular color
Inviting showrooms for the world
This he was most proud of –
He painted our lives.
![](https://res.cloudinary.com/jerrick/image/upload/d_642250b563292b35f27461a7.png,f_jpg,q_auto,w_720/655b9fa5ecaa89001dc39beb.jpg)
About the Creator
Barb Dukeman
An English teacher by trade, I’ve spent 32+ years in the classroom, instilling a love of literature (and a tolerance of writing) in my students. I started reading at the age of three and started writing at 13 with a poem about green socks.
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Comments (6)
What an emotional and moving tribute to your father. Very engrossing.
Beautifully written. Congrats.
A lovely poem! Congrats!
Beautiful! 🩵
Gosh this made me so emotional. A very wonderful poem!
A touching tribute, well penned.