I did not know my father
He was there when I was born
He named me Maria
And then he was gone
Another man raised me
It was he I called dad
He changed my name
Life was sad
I searched for my father
When I was grown
One day I found him
But who could have known
The stories I was told
Of the man I had not met
Were beyond belief
And difficult to forget
He had other children now
A successful man
I did not want trouble
So I made a plan
I went to see him
But did not tell who I was
I drank in his nearness
Then I left … because
I called him later
To tell we had met
It was strange
But I was no threat
A father and his daughter
Had crossed on life’s path
They spoke for the first time
And it would be the last
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M. C. S.
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T. Dailey
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Comments
Then I left … because "
These lines go right through my heart. How sad and searing they are ! What a loss for him. What a beautiful poem. Hugs. R
Lezlie
What a remarkable woman you are! What a remarkable poem!
Your poetry and your actions.
Tor: I knew it was kinda heavy and sad but it is how my heart feels when I think of my father and my dad.
Fusun: Thank you for feeling it with me and for your kind words. And that hug is really nice!
Dave: What a lovely thing to say! Thank you.
JD: Aw... you are remarkably nice but I do not deserve such a remarkable comment.
...next please: Thank you ... and you too are too kind!
sparking: I do not wish to break your heart but if it touches your heart then I am sincerely touched.
Cranky Cuss: Hi! Thank you .... the simplicity is just how it came from my heart.
""I drank in his nearness
Then I left … because"
This blew me away.
Mary Ann: Thank you so much for you good wishes. I have my wonderful children to hold me close.
LL2: I know ... me too ... but there is so much I have to be thankful for and there are many who have far worse than I. Thank you for being such a friend.
scanner: It was hard but under the circumstances was probably best. And, yes, I think meeting him just the once did help because now, for the 17 years since I met him, I could carry a mental picture of what he looked like and a little knowledge of him ... something I didn't have for many, many years before.
Such a successful ....presentation.... of loss and harsh reality.
Beautiful.
femme forte: Ditto ... (see above)! Thank you too.
Bernadine: Hi! What a lovely name! I really appreciate your comments and thank you too!
Henry: Hello to you ... it's nice to meet you! Thank you for commenting ... I'm very touched that you've dropped by.
fernsy: Hi there sweetie! Your comments are very much appreciated ... reality is harsh at times but I can count my blessings.
Thoth: Thank you my friend ... I can always count on you to say a nice word.
Smithery: Hi Smithery! It's so great to meet you! Yes it is in me but for each reason I might have to cry about, I have ten reasons to smile.
My heart goes out to you - and a fine piece of writing.
Grif: Wow ... you've just taken my breath away too. I'm practically speechless and don't know what to say to such a wonderful comment .. but Thank You!
Mark: Yes, I think we both have missed out but it is the way it is.
Pilgrim: And you are my precious friend! Thank you.
Sheila: Thank you, Sheila. I like to think I accepted fairly well what was what and how things just were. I couldn't change anything ... and in the end, when we had met, I just thought my father might have liked to have known that we had too.
Caroline: Thank you! I wonder which way round might have been the best way to go ... poem then story; or, story then poem? Who knows!
Cindy: Thank you for your compassion. I am okay. As a friend of mine often says .... it is what it is.