Best Dad Poems
in the uncoloured tint of another everyday
amongst the spit polished waxed apples
tightly packed in burlap bags
they walked like minded
in their own burly wrap
oblivious to the irony
to their similarity
of the markets round red fruit
unaware of the tragedy
the horror of events yet to come
it will rain metal shrapnel
as human minds grasp
with the purpose of their existence
as in their ignorance
they understand their worth as human bombs
with a belief the heavens will open the gates
with a fanfare and a promised blessing
for their divine act of unquestioned belief
the clay shaped bricks
the black iron metal stairs
the drum sound of engines
then the lull
not after
but before
before
the pulse of the storm
the rain of death
yet this moment captured
this photograph
with man and child in hand
smells sweet
you wonder
bemused
why?
the world travels
aimlessly
singularly
no one
nothing in the universe
suggests
exposes
even a hint
even a glimpse
not a clue
that would lead
reveal
an answer.
life in its contradiction
like the proverbial apple
offers both
the miracle
the curse.
09/23/2014
Daddy
Daddy, why did you go away?
Don't you know I wanted you to stay!
Daddy, when you left mom,
Don't you know you left me too?
Now all I do is cry and cry
--- I want to die!
Daddy, mommy say's it's better this way,
What does she know!
They're not enough band-aids to cover up the blues
Mom's kisses can't heal this kind of pain.
Daddy, I look around
No one stands in your garage
Daddy, You took every tool
Except the hammer and sitting stool
Daddy, I still miss you
--- I love you.
***
Dear Daddy, I'm all grown up now
Haven't seen you since I was 10
Daddy, I sit on your favorite chair,
No longer do I miss the way you caressed my hair.
Daddy, I'm taking the old hammer and this BRAND NEW saw,
It's time to patch all the holes mom punched in the wall
*The day you walked out on us*
Daddy, don't worry about the times I tripped and fell
Mom found someone to fix the loose boards,
Got tired of scraping my knees
Daddy, I finally realized I'm okay,
I agree with mom, it's better this way.
by- Not every dad is great (but step-dad YES!)
I loved you the first day
I saw those big brown eyes blinking,
taking in your first moments of life.
Not a tear nor a little scream,
you seemed sheltered in my arms.
That was the day I promised to keep you safe and warm.
I remember your attempts to call for me,
gradually turning into 'daddy, daddy, daddy.'
First crawling like a caterpillar, following my every step,
to walking and grabbing my legs.
There you would be waiting at the door,
always knew when daddy would come home from work.
Telling me you loved me and I was your hero,
as you ran around in your fairy princess dresses.
I promised to make all your dreams come true.
I remember the smiles, tears and laughter,
our special song we sang together -
although you didn't know the words, still you sang along -
now your voice is like a melodious nightingale.
Every time you would fall, always looked towards me,
I would come running and raise you to the sky.
Wiping your tears, spreading those imaginary wings,
but in my heart hoping you would never learn to fly.
When I fell, trials of your father, I kept inside,
hoping you would not see my pain nor the burdens.
Guess you will never know the sacrifices of your father.
How quick you grew, all tall and hair full of locks and curls.
Slowly daddy, turned into dad and being your taxi!
Now you say you are seventeen and you think you know it all,
but you do not realize, you'll always be a baby in my eyes.
If only you could see through your father's eyes.
Sometimes you do not understand why I say no,
and those mini tantrums never last too long.
I know in the future it will all make sense.
You dream about studying far, far away,
travelling this wild, crazy, mysterious world.
Yet, I know every road you venture upon,
one of them will lead you back home.
When days are sunny,
you smile sweetly, walking headstrong,
but when there is thunder and rain clouds follow -
those sweet brown eyes always turn to me -
always ending in 'thank you for being my daddy.'
Adding to the millions of 'I love you more.'
Little do you know that is impossible.
Silent One
5 October 2020
A homeless man played his guitar,
for coin rewards put in a jar.
A lonely life he always led,
but in his heart a love he had.
This love he thought of all the time,
during the cold days brought sunshine.
His songs were of a girl he loved,
he sang to her, with stars above.
So many years had gone on by,
but in his heart, and reasons why.
There was this hope that would not die,
the thought of her just made him cry.
Dedicated to my
daughter Ashley...
Michael Tor
Sometimes life is the tragedy
of a fly, caught in a cobweb -
awaiting its fate.
It's happening again,
a child of summer misplaced
in the dawn of autumn's anguish.
All I want is to smell spring flowers.
My pen struggles to breathe,
in this downfall season of death,
yet the ink pours with the insecurities of rain.
Ten years later, memories remain,
as monotonous funereal hues fill the air.
Once again you disturb my sleep.
A black shadow with no halo nor wings,
I can see the whiteness of your eyes,
similar to mine, trying to connect -
but I fail to comprehend the messages.
An uninvited guest at your death bed,
I broke promises to never cry that day.
Not sure if it was rage or regret,
but walls could have shattered to the floor,
lying in shards of stubborn bitterness.
You were the most mighty tree I had seen,
but your branches never sheltered me.
How you had fallen like autumn leaves,
waiting to be elevated from the ground.
No longer could you sin nor cause pain.
I remember your last silent breath,
held your hand as your eyes closed forever.
I still place flowers upon your resting place,
but remain torn in this battle of emotions
wondering if I should destroy cobwebs,
or let spiders feast upon their prey.
Silent One
24 October 2020
You were the oak in our family tree,
With roots that were strong and true,
Holding on so tenaciously
No ill wind could topple you.
We nestled under your branches, Daddy,
In the shelter of your girth,
Until our own roots were established and
We survived by our own worth.
Daddy, only then did you waver
Only then did your roots release.
God seeing how very tired you were
Took you to his home of peace.
Dear Daddy on this Father's Day
I am wondering if you knew
Just how much your daughter loved you
And that she's still missing you.
I am not a father
nor I am a mother
I am just a daughter
that is growing better...
Father, you have been away
I truly wish you have stayed
Hugging me as I lay
I don't need much penny...
All I have been missing
is you my daddy
Your love and your real company...
Look, how I am now
I pursued my little vow
Hoping always, You'll be proud
It's alright if you'll not be loud...
All I want is for us to bond...
Yes, I am neither a kid nor a child
Ever anymore
But still, there is that longing
I cannot deny...
I miss you much, daddy...
(c)
contest: POEM FOR DADDY
SPONSOR: LEONORA GALINTA
2ND PLACE - TO GOD BE THE GREATEST GLORY...
NOTE: I REALLY MISS A FATHER'S LOVE..
A hardened and disciplined man drove to the grocery store lost in thought,
with setting of sun, the long day's work almost found it's end.
Hoisting his daughter to shoulder, he walked from the parking lot,
and barely noticed her hair smelled of shampoo and pool chlorine blend.
He searched for fresh loaf of bread, and pound of peaches,
careful to tally up each purchase with well-honed skill.
With family's dinner waiting, and worn wallet short on wages,
thinking, that tank of gas will have to wait, and hoped it will.
Looking up from the myriad of baby food jars in the next aisle,
slowly he became aware, as a dense fog clears on a whim.
Now noticed a woman with mouth played in a strange smile,
her instinctive gaze fixed on something behind him.
He turned to see what elicited her quizzical beam,
and his heart melted at the sight in the shopping cart.
A straw haired helper, fast asleep, slumped over in a girl's charmed dream,
her little head now resting against his arm.
The day's worries quickly fled, tough exterior, now stripped senseless,
life's hard lesson and true measure of a man's love now shown.
Left wondering how a resting child could leave one so defenseless,
and that, which a man holds important..,could be so wrong.
Epilogue
I live the rest of my days wiser and more carefree.
For my darling little one, it wasn't I that carried you,
but you that carried me.
I’m tired
I’m Physically and Emotionally tired
I don’t want to be the strong one anymore
I can’t this time
I don’t know what to do Daddy
I need your help down here
I can’t get back in control of my emotions
I’m having a hard time dealing with your absence
I’m having a hard time standing by myself
I need your help Daddy
I’m broken and lost without you Daddy
I need your will to want to carry on
I need your strength to over come this
I need your strength to stay standing
Your courage to fight back again
I need your help
Please Daddy I’m at a loss
How am I suppose to do this
I need your guidance
I need you to guide me back
To whom I was before
I need your help Daddy
I need your help
I have learned to say thanks
... It's free
I can not remember that I sat on your lap when I was little
How delightful it is to have a child on my lap
I can not remember no one hugs
Today I hug you often
You feel discomfort
I have learned to be helpful
... It's free
I learned to tie my shoelaces
.... Where were you
I have learned to be kind
.... It's free
I learned to ride a bike
... Where were you
A sister and a brother
moved many miles from their childhood home
I went to school - I became an adult
.... Where were you
I got my own family
A home created along with my dear husband
... A beautiful child and grandchildren
... Where were you
I taught them to say thank you and share many warm hugs .... love
You need me now, to master your life
.... It's free
I am here for you
I say: "I love you, dear dad"
You say: "Its only fair .... it is your duty"
I give you a hug
... You give me no one back
05.01.2015
A-L Andresen :)
Copyright © All Rights Reserved
One Halloween night when I was five
Rain pelted city streets, we stayed inside
Dad lit the Jack-o-lantern candle
Told us the tale of a famous vandal
One “Headless Horseman” in Sleepy Hollow
‘Twas Ichabod Crane he chose to follow
Crane ran breathlessly, was terrorized
(At this point my father’s eyes looked wild)
Thundering behind him through the forest
The hooves of a horse and a rider headless
Carrying a sword to strike Ichabod
(Dad grabbed a spatula, swung it like a rod)
Not just we children but our mother too
Gasped at the thought of Ichabod pursued
High winds cut off our electrical power
As in our kitchen three children cowered
Orange light from the pumpkin’s evil eyes
Showed Dad seemed to have dematerialized
The youngest, I felt something run through my hair
I screamed aloud in horror and despair
The lit pumpkin fell from table to floor
Darkness as I ran through the kitchen door
Leaping into bed, pulling up the sheets
Dad snuck into my room, whispered, “Trick or treat”
So if you think I am a drama queen
Please realize that it’s all in my genes
Happy Halloween!
You think I have a pretty face
My dresses weaved from frills and lace
You think that I'm a spoilt brat
with diamonds around my neck
and roses in my bed
You think I own the pot of gold
A blissful future to behold
You think I live on a greener grass
but you know nothing
No ,you know nothing about my past
There are chapters still on hold
A thousand words untold
There's emotion still enclosed in a lacrimal drop
There is a tasteless tale,a colourless spume
and large waves that fall on the shore
There's a silent cry which keeps yelling why
which keeps loving and hating,mending and breaking
Pushing ,embracing our God
My unfaithful devotion keeps begging in motion
Asking what,where,when,and how long
For how long should I wait for
to feel the affection, love and protection
to listen to daddy singing for me
just one birthday song
For how long should I pray for,to listen to daddy
just calling out my name on the phone
You think I have a pretty face
My dresses weaved from frills and lace
You think that I'm a spoilt brat
with diamonds around my neck
and roses in my bed
You think I own the pot of gold
A blissful future to behold
You think I live on a greener grass
but you know nothing
No, you know nothing about my past
You know nothing about the way I feel
About deep scars that would never heal
You just keep thinking that I live
I live on a greener grass.
This year we will remember
Happier times in past months of December
This year we will certainly see
A massive void where you used to be
This year we will sit and stare
At that forlorn and empty chair
This year we will sit and reminisce
You are not here for us to hug and kiss
This year we will definitely see
No gift for you under the Christmas tree
This year we will shed a tear
For dad as you are no longer here
This year we will raise a toast
To our dad who we loved the most
This year will be so difficult for us all
It was the year the Lord did my father call
Poem re titled for:-
Contest: CHRISTMAS MOURNING CONTEST
Sponsor: PS AWTRY
01~07~15
As we rode through a fog, my father and I,
the car we were in, seemed to know its way home
Hands on the wheel, without eyes on the road
We were numb from the cold. No words left to say ....
We had prayed through the night in a hospital haze,
clinging to a hope, that had slipped far away
Until the end of the world came upon the new day
Arriving home in the car, unable to talk,
our hopes and our tears had nowhere to land.
If just one would escape, where would it go?
No shoulder, ...no dam. How would they stop?...
My Dad was in shock, as he stood by the gate,
a glaze in his eyes, ......and a million years old
My feet froze in place, and knees shivered cold
but as the sun rose, I reached out to hold
his hand in the dawn, and took the control
I took him inside, and with deliberate intrusion
I fed him some soup, and put him to bed
He was the child, and I the adult
Day after day, somehow by default
our roles were reversed, ...and I became strong
My childhood had ended,.....and his had begun
_______________________________________________________
My voice is weak, my hand falters
as I attempt to speak of my Father.
Each night sleep takes me,
then truth awakes me –
my Dad is gone, now dead.
My heart hears this from my head.
Wrapped in numbness, walking in nothingness,
I search for his presence.
The chain’s now broken, its brightest link gone.
My Dad was security and so mentally strong.
His mind quick, his wit sharp,
he always inspired my young heart.
Pleasing my Father was to lasso the sun.
In him my pride was first begun.
I picture his hands, legs and arms –
my protector from harm;
wisdom was his voice,
comforting his every choice,
willpower his motto, sureness his step.
He was a man of incredible depth.
Knowing I am my Father’s daughter
is a thought to be tenderly kept.
His final, “I love you” words,
the most emotion I’ve heard yet.
I will miss you, Daddy.
Now and forever, naught will I forget.
I’ll see you each sunrise,
mourn you each sunset.
Images crash around me,
I’d have it no other way
Than your memory with
me each and every day.