Does this poem make anyone else emotional? Don't you think it is very well written?

DieHardWildFan · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2008, 05:34 AM

To a Sad Daughter by Michael OndaatjeI love this poem it is great. What do you think?All night long the hockey picturesgaze down at yousleeping in your tracksuit.Belligerent goalies are your ideal.Threats of being tradedcuts and wounds--all this pleases you.O my god! you say at breakfastreading the sports page over the Alpenas another player breaks his ankleor assaults the coach.When I thought of daughtersI wasn't expecting thisbut I like this more.I like all your faultseven your purple moodswhen you retreat from everyoneto sit in bed under a quilt.And when I say 'like'I mean of course 'love'but that embarrasses you.You who feel superior to black and white movies(coaxed for hours to see Casablanca)though you were movedby Creature from the Black Lagoon.One day I'll come swimmingbeside your ship or someone willand if you hear the sirenlisten to it. For if you close your earsonly nothing happens. You will never change.I don't care if you riskyour life to angry goaliescreatures with webbed feet.You can enter their caves and castlestheir glass laboratories. Justdon't be fooled by anyone but yourself.This is the first lecture I've given you.You're 'sweet sixteen' you said.I'd rather be your closest friendthan your father. I'm not good at adviceyou know that, but ridethe ceremoniesuntil they grow dark.Sometimes you are so busydiscovering your friendsI ache with loss--but that is greed.And sometimes I've goneinto my purple worldand lost you.One afternoon I steppedinto your room. You were sittingat the desk where I now write this.Forsythia outside the windowand sun spilled over youlike a thick yellow miracleas if another planetwas coaxing you out of the house--all those possible worlds!--and you, meanwhile, busy with mathematics.I cannot look at forsythia nowwithout loss, or joy for you.You step delicatelyinto the wild worldand your real prize will bethe frantic search.Want everything. If you breakbreak going out not in.How you live your life I don't carebut I'll sell my arms for you,hold your secrets forever.If I speak of deathwhich you fear now, greatly,it is without answers.except that eachone we know isin our blood.Don't recall graves.Memory is permanent.Remember the afternoon'syellow suburban annunciation.Your goaliein his frightening maskdreams perhapsof gentleness.It almost made me cry lol. Do get what it means??For you guys who don't know what it means: This guy is saying his daughter grew up so fast and he misses her and he will always love her the way she is.