"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,
on this Daddy's Day.
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 then 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 their Daddy,
as seconds slowly passed.
At last
the teacher called her name,
every child turned to stare.
Each of them were searching,
for a man who wasn't there.
"Where's
her Daddy at?"
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 at her friends.
And looked back at her teacher,
who told her to begin.
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 with me on this 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 all alone.
'Cause
my Daddy's always with me,
even though we are apart.
I know because he told me,
he'll forever be here 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 placed on her desktop,
was a beautiful fragrant pink rose...
And
a child was blessed,
if for only a moment,
by the love of her shining bright star,
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.
~
© 2000 Cheryl Costello-Forshey ~
Cheryl has graciously granted me permission to use her poem
and it can not be copied or
reproduced in any form without her written consent . Thank
you Cheryl.
"Daddy's Day" has been published in the books
"Chicken Soup For The Parent's Soul"
and "Stories For A Teen's Heart Book 2"
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