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When my father turned seventy
I realized that seventy
is not old. It is not, in fact,
very much time at all—
especially to read the Bible
enough times. It is almost long enough
to be a modern-day Moses,
growing a beard from black to white
while blowing on a shofar,
the sound of sunset trumpeting for miles
down the river. It is, I think,
after half a night's sleep,
just the right amount of time
to grab our fishing poles,
and thread onto a hook
an earthworm, while it is still dark.
This poem first appeared in Hartskill Review (Winter 2015).
Used here with permission.
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Rebecca O'Bern's poem, "Lost and Found", won 2nd place in Connecticut Poetry Review's 2017 Al Savard Memorial Poetry Contest, and her poem, "Just Keep Doing Your Thing", was named co-winner of the Connecticut Review's 2010 Leslie Leeds Poetry Prize. Rebecca received her MFA in creative writing in 2017 and, most recently, served as co-editor-in-chief of Mud Season Review. When not writing, she enjoys drinking hot tea and reflecting on the work of great thinkers and innovators throughout history. Find her on social media at twitter.com/rebeccaobern.
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Lori Levy:
This poem pulls me in and holds my interest. Great ending, too.
Posted 06/13/2022 10:46 AM
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paradea:
Love this poem!!
Posted 06/13/2022 10:25 AM
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Sharon Waller Knutson:
I loved this unique, delightful poem from the title to the last word. My favorite imagery was: It is almost long enough
to be a modern-day Moses,
growing a beard from black to white
while blowing on a shofar,
the sound of sunset trumpeting for miles
down the river.
Posted 06/13/2022 09:53 AM
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Michael:
What a poignant tribute to a Father that lives large in your memory. All fathers should be so fortunate. Nicely done, Rebecca!
Posted 06/13/2022 08:23 AM
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Larry Schug:
Sometimes it seems like old age is just luck, but it is also what you make of it. The more times I read this poem, the more I enjoy it. I wish I was seventy again (ha ha).
Posted 06/13/2022 06:47 AM
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