Father

Runner-Up Poem for our April 2019 Acrostic Poetry Contest

Interview with Jodi M. Kucera, the runner-up of our Acrostic Poetry Contest

• How long have you been writing poetry and what got you started?
  I have been writing off and on for years. When I became a mom, my writing took a backseat for a while. However, when I found out that May was Military Appreciation month (2015), I sent my dad a text every day to thank him for his service. "The Life a Soldier" was a result of that. When he died in September of 2017, I knew I would have to deal with the way I was feeling, and so I picked up my pen and began to put his stories/experiences and what I still had left to say to him in my poems.
• Your dad has been a focus for all of the poems published on Family Friend Poems. What are some lessons you've learned from him?
  I learned so many valuable lessons over the years from my dad; to know where to begin is difficult. My dad was haunted by his memories of Vietnam; he struggled with PTSD, multiple sclerosis, and many other health issues. He was in pain on a daily basis, but it never stopped him from loving unconditionally, having a smile and a kind word for everyone, and a willingness to help anyone in need. He taught me to be strong in the face of weakness, to be find joy in the midst of strife, and to help others while I myself am struggling. The one thing he never taught me though was how to live without him.
• What do you like most about writing poetry?
  I like that I can take what I’m feeling and turn it into a story that others can connect with.

Poetry Contests - All Winning Poems