These eyes are watching me

Photographs on my desktop.
The smiles and the eyes
Look in my direction.
A young Mohamed wearing a tie and cardigan,
a slight gap in his knowing smile 
Exposing a sliver of white.
My parents, holding each other,
dressed for a wedding
And posing on a dusty road;
My father’s bent knee and
An open stance;
my mother clasping her handbag
leaning into my father.
My mother, sister and I
one Christmas;
my sister’s grin lifts her face,
my mother’s sideway glance in my direction.
I hug her arm tightly.
My father before he knew me,
His suit and tie fit him perfectly.
He smiles wide and open
Almost like he is laughing.
He looks forward,
Optimistic and hopeful.
His forehead is framed by soft locks and a part,
His eyebrows, dark, and guarding
Eyes that sing.
I look back into those eyes,
The many eyes that look in my direction
In the photographs on my desktop.
They watch me.
They remind me.
They comfort me.
They bring me back.
They push me forward.
I miss those faces from the past,
But I feel their eyes on me every day
And I am grateful.

My father before I knew him. His eyes are watching me.

Responses

  1. arjeha Avatar

    What a wonderful sight greets each time you look at your computer. Your family is always there with you and for you.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Rita K. Avatar

    Welcome to the Slice of Life community. Clearly, you have much to add. This poem is amazing. I love how you weave wondrous words to describe the photos that bring you joy. Often, I sit in our living room and watch the precious pics of our family slice by on the electric screen. I may try something similar. What a beautiful picture of your dad. Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Anita Ferreri Avatar

    I am so glad I found your wonderful poem driven by photographs on your desk. I felt chills as I read your lines, “They watch me. They remind me. They comfort me.They bring me back. They push me forward.” Your poem reminds me of the profound change in my thinking from a photo display I bought myself for my birthday last year. I download photos and it scrolls all day long. I often smile as I walk past. Other times, I am brought back to powerful memories.

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  4. Ana Valentina Patton Avatar

    Ohh, Giovanna, this was so lovely and powerful! The words you so carefully chosen (or perhaps straight from the heart) made each line so strong. The repetition toward the end was the prefect culmination. Thank you for sharing! I’m glad to get to read from you so much this month!

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  5. Leigh Anne Eck Avatar

    Perfectly chosen words as I could imagine the pictures from them. Welcome to the slicing world!

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