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Dear dad

Dear Father, I’m disappointed in you, you’ve let me down, a shadow cast over my heart. You say you love me, sure you do, but love is more than words, more than the fleeting touch of a phone call, once a month, if that. You call me, once in a blue moon, and if I don’t pick up, your anger flares, a wildfire of accusation. Dear Father, do you see the irony? A connection so fragile, yet your expectations are mountains, unmovable, towering, cold. Dear Father, I’m afraid, afraid that my wedding dress, a symbol of dreams and new beginnings, won’t have your presence to bless it. Afraid that the aisle I walk, a path of hope, will be lined with ghosts of what could have been. You’ve missed so much, moments that shaped me, laughter and tears, victories and fears. Your absence a gaping void, a chasm I’ve tried to fill with fragments of memory, with whispers of your voice, echoes of what once was. Dear Father, you’ve let me down, a disappointment that clings like mist, permeating my being, seeping into my dreams. I wanted a hero, a guide, but you gave me distance, space that grew and grew, until it swallowed us whole. Love is more than a word, more than a duty call, it’s presence, it’s care, it’s being there, in the moments that matter, in the silence that speaks volumes. Dear Father, I’ve tried to reach you, bridge the gap with hope, with forgiveness, but the walls are high, the bridges burnt. Your love, if it exists, is a fleeting shadow, a wisp of smoke, intangible, elusive. And I am left, with the ruins of expectation, the rubble of unmet dreams. Dear Father, I wanted you to be my rock, my anchor in the storm, but you are a ship adrift, lost in the sea of your own making. I’m disappointed, hurt, but still, I hope, a fragile flame in the darkness. Hope that one day, you’ll see, that love is more than a call, more than a word. Dear Father, I wanted a dance, a moment of joy, but the music plays, and you are not here. Dear Father, I’m afraid, afraid of the future, of the dreams that may never come true, because you are not there to share them. But I am strong, stronger than you know, and though you’ve let me down, I will rise, I will shine, I will be the love I needed from you. Dear Father, this is my truth, a letter unsent, a plea unheard. But still, I write, still, I hope, for a future where your love, is more than a shadow, more than a word. Dear Father, I’m disappointed, but I will not be defined, by the love you failed to give. I will be whole, I will be free, and I will find the love, within me.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2024




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Date: 7/13/2024 7:17:00 AM
Dear ari, this made me tear up, its very sad and the reality for so many kids around the world, and i do not understand why some fathers cant be proper parents. Their presence is what would be appreciated at the end of the day and if they cant give that, it surely would affect children. And even young adults. And adults too: you are very brave to express so openly how you feel: the ending is powerful and shows how strong you are. Keep shining and never let anyones actions define you. sending you light always
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Ariana Pataki
Date: 7/13/2024 8:58:00 AM
I'm not glad that this made you tear up. But I'm so glad it made you feel what I felt while writing it. And glad that you understood my poem perfectly. It wasn't an easy one, because I kept writing things that actually hurt my heart. Thank you for reading my poem and for such kind comment. Take care of yourself.
Date: 7/12/2024 12:20:00 PM
Dear Ariana, I stopped here to check out your poems after reading your blog "Poetry and Grieving". I can assure you that the spark that fuels your creativity was just waiting to be set free! This is a beautiful and expressive poem. It is sad that a father/daughter relationship is imprisoned in such a situation. I hope he gets to read, understand and make the next move. ~ Best regards // paul
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Ariana Pataki
Date: 7/13/2024 8:53:00 AM
Paul, thank you for reading my blog and my poem. I really appreciate it. Thank you for your kind words. I believe that even if I showed him this he wouldn't change. But I guess I won't lose anyway. Thanks Paul!
Date: 7/12/2024 6:15:00 AM
Divorce, I presume? I raised my son alone for a time and was grateful to have done so. We were very close at one time, not presently. Quite sad. Your pain is palpable, with a tinge of anger and regret thrown in. You really are a good writer, though I'd like to see you expand your worldview a bit. There are so many things to write about, so many forms. Try a Shakespearean sonnet, a Haibun, haiku, lyric. My dad died last month. When you get a chance check out my Daddy poem tell me what you thnk
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Ariana Pataki
Date: 7/12/2024 12:03:00 PM
Yea, they divorced a few years ago. I will listen to you and will try to write a poem with other forms. Hopefully it won't be too difficult haha. I'm so sorry for your loss. I'll read your poem now.

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