Home » Poems » Andrea Dietrich » Father's Day

Father's Day

Fate did not intend for me to have
A father that was more the normal kind.
The man my mother married first went to war.
He came back from it, but he had lost his mind.
Entirely changed was he! Although I – his eldest -
Revered him, my mother knew that it was best to leave.
So back to her home state she took her daughters.

Dad, you passed away not long ago, but I believe
At last you are yourself again. I know at Heaven’s Gate
You are with loved one (and with hugs for your four girls) you now wait!

Submitted for the 'Relationships' Poetry Contest of Robert James Liguori

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Kim Merryman

Date: 6/3/2021 7:46:00 PM

Andrea, this is well written and honest! Congrats on your win! Blessings, Kim M

Eve Roper

Date: 6/2/2021 9:37:00 PM

Andrea, men do come back different one way or another. My son went in a love affectionate young man, he came back with traumatic brain injury. Congratulations on your win. Enjoyed reading. My warmest wishes. God bless you. <3

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 6/3/2021 10:40:00 PM

so sorry that happened to him, Eve.

Beata Agustin

Date: 6/2/2021 7:08:00 PM

Wow! Congrats! Thanks for sharing this tribute to your Dad. God bless you.

L Milton Hankins

Date: 6/2/2021 9:16:00 AM

Andrea, the honesty and poignancy of your poem deserved a high place on my list of winners. Congratulations!

Smita Kulkarni

Date: 5/20/2021 8:18:00 AM

Loved reading your poem Andrea! A heartfelt tribute to your dad! Well done!

Anitha Jayasankar

Date: 5/19/2021 6:38:00 PM

Straight from the heart Andrea... a great tribute to your father... Best wishes... Hugs... ~ Ani

Quoth Theraven

Date: 5/18/2021 7:42:00 AM

Andrea, Your poem's message found in love for one lost, yet left an enduring mark. I wonder how many fathers were lost this way to war. -Richard

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 5/18/2021 12:27:00 PM

thanks, richard. Yes, it is very unfortunate for the kids of some soldiers. My dad's schizophrena was bound to come out in his youth due to it being genetic, and because it came out in Korean War, I and his other daughters got to go to college on the funds for children of disabled vets. This program no longer exists. Indirectly and ironically, my dad's sad illness benefited all his girls' education.

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 5/18/2021 12:15:00 AM

A glorious tribute to your father; raising four daughters! Oh, my! What a marvelous man!

Vijay Pandit

Date: 5/17/2021 4:36:00 AM

A love filled, honest tribute, Andrea.

Kim Rodrigues

Date: 5/17/2021 4:25:00 AM

We all have our experiences. Such a difficult one for you. But I love your hope of seeing your Dad made whole again in the heavenlies. God bless ~ Kim

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 5/17/2021 2:32:00 PM

Considering the way the world is these days, I am not really too unusual a case. I think 1/4 of all women have dads who are not really in their lives. It's a sad fact of life! I am glad at least he was not a deadbeat dad. Even with the mental illness, he sent my mom money every month for us girls (and she did not have any alimony agreement with him back in the 50's). Thanks for your comment, Kim.