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Daddy's Day
Her hair up
in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a
bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, and she couldn't
wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, that she
probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, if she went to
school alone.
But she was not afraid; she knew just what to
say.
What to tell her classmates of why he wasn't
there today.
But still her mother worried, for her to face
this day alone.
And that was why once again, she tried to keep
her daughter home.
But the little girl went to school, eager to tell
them all.
About a dad she never sees, a dad who never
calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back, for
everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their
seats.
One by one the teacher called, a student from the
class.
To introduce theirdaddy, as seconds slowly
passed.
At last the teacher called her name, every child
turned to stare.
Each of them was searching, for a man who wasn't
there.
"Where's her daddyat?" she heard a boy
call out.
"She probably doesn't have one,"
another student dared to shout.
And from somewhere near the back, she heard a
daddy say,
"Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy
to waste his day."
The words did not offend her, as she smiled up at
her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher, who told her to
go on.
And with hands behind her back, slowly she began
to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child, came words
incredibly unique.
"My Daddy couldn't be here, because he lives
so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be, since this is
such a special day.
And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to
know.
All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so.
He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride
my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses, and taught me to
fly a kite.
We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in
a cone.
And though you cannot see him, I'm not standing
here alone.
'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we
are apart
I know because he told me, he'll forever be in my
heart"
With that, her little hand reached up, and lay
across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite
dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her
mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise
beyond her years.
For she stood up for the love of a man not in her
life.
Doing what was best for her, doing what was
right.
And when she dropped her hand back down, staring
straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft, but its
message clear and loud.
"I love my daddy very much, he's my shining
star.
And if he could, he'd be here, but heaven's just
too far.
But sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he
never went away."
And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there
that day.
And to her mother's amazement, she witnessed with
surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, all starting
to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, who knows
what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her
side.
"I know you're with me Daddy," to the
silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers, of those
once filled with doubt.
Not one in that room could explain it, for each
of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her, was a fragrant
long-stemmed pink rose.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, by
the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing, that heaven is
never too far
Author: (c) 2000 Cheryl Costello-Forshey
This poem cannot be copied or reproduced in any form
without the written consent of the author
''Daddy's Day'' has been published in the books
''Chicken Soup for the Parent's Soul'' and ''Stories for a Teen's Heart 2''
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