A fatherless child was born one day.
She never asked for this life,
but it’s hers, anyway.
As she lay in her crib
at the hospital ward,
the other fathers come,
the other babies are adored.
She has no last name,
her birth certificate, incomplete.
There won’t be a proud Daddy
counting the toes on her feet.
That first day of school,
she knew something was wrong.
All the other kids brought a man
named “Daddy” along.
She had heard that word,
but what did it mean?
She didn’t have one of those,
at least not that she had seen.
She asked many questions
over the next few years,
but there were no answers,
just a set of deaf ears.
As she grew up,
the dream formed in her mind.
One day she’d get answers
and her lost Daddy, she would find.
She laid in bed every night,
giving him a face.
She rehearsed every moment,
every word, just in case.
She imagined a happy meeting,
a day full of hugs and tears.
The vision became perfect,
polished over the years.
She couldn’t believe it,
when the day actually came.
She finally had a story
and most of all, a name.
They wouldn’t let her search
until she was on her own.
She knew this was something
she had to do all alone.
She made many cold calls,
the answer was always the same.
Then she found someone
that knew that name.
The woman said,
“That is my son”.
The girl knew it was over,
her journey was done.
She learned all she could
in that one call.
As she hung up, she realized,
‘that was my grandma’!
She had what she needed,
the time was here.
She dialed his number,
the phone trembled next to her ear.
When she heard his voice,
she felt her heart flop.
Everything was still.
Time seemed to stop.
She told him the story
and the part that he played,
how she was his daughter,
the one he had made.
She heard him speaking
and the words that he said.
But this wasn’t in her dream,
it was a nightmare, instead.
He said he didn’t want a daughter,
her dream would never be.
She was only a weed
growing under his family tree.
Now, what would she dream about?
This was the only dream she had.
All she ever wanted was
to be a daughter to a Dad.
Author notes
I wrote this poem about the worst heartbreak I've ever suffered. It's a bit long, but it's a true story.
Written October 17th, 2005
A contest entry
- Fav Me by SomeonesToySoldier.
2625 points, ended October 8, 2008, 33 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
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This is so wonderfully and honestly written i ache for you, I am so sorry you had to go through that, truly, but i hope you found other dreams to chase, i wish you well, and seriously you are a gifted writer, take care
littlefishone
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Tragic!
But fantastic write!!!!
Loving it.
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Oh my stars this is amazing and sad. i love it and i'm sorry this happened. great job and good luck
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I just wanted to let you know that I still love this poem. I think it is the best one so far! I am onto the next one though.....................
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God.
Wow.
That must hurt.
My story is a little different to yours, but lets just say I understand...
And it's not too long either. You kept me reading!
I hope you're ok... -
Hello.
I read your poem, and truly, I feel your pain. My girlfriend's father abandoned her, and she has struggled for so many years with it...I can only imagine how you feel deep inside...
Personally, I'd add some metaphor and imagery to the poem, relate the feelings to nature, or to something that evokes a very strong emotion in the reader.
I love the ending.
Keep your head up...
BRANDON
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Thanks for the comment!!
Thank you so much for the comment, it is one of my favorite poems, I wrote it years ago. I hope your girlfriend has a special way to deal with her "Daddy" trauma, (thats what I call it). Poetry is definitely my outlet, I bet she is a very sensitive because of her ordeal. She is lucky to have you, you sound like a great guy. I am off to read your stuff!
P.S. Tell your girlfriend for me that the Good Lord watches out for the fatherless....she will always be blessed.
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An incredible write and I'm very sorry it had to happen to a wonderful person like you.
-hugs-
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well done!!!!
Sad yet full of hope. I like it very much. I enjoyed reading it simply because I like it very much. Its a tribute to those children who doesn't have a father, the father died or the father is long gone and no traces. Keep on creating inspirational poems to inspire people. For me its an excellent work.
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Personally, I’d hug you first. Because I know how it is. This might not make sense but its fathers like that who don’t know what they have lost. I hope he knows he has lost someone who has her heart filled with nothing except love. And you’ve expressed those feelings well here.
I like how long it is so don’t change its length. It’s like you’ve told a story within those 20 lined verse. Complete and precise also so emotionally twined with sadness and pure love. [truly WONDERFUL piece] It helped to keep the rhyming words with each stanza. I truly did read it from top to bottom. I’d applaud you with more than just 3 of these little clapping thingy smileys. But I could only give three. Still though… it was probably a hard experience… I know. Writing poetry can always become such a refuge. Something you can always run to when no one else will listen.
I’m sorry for such a lengthy comment. But I hope you appreciate it. :
^_^)::
Keep the chin up, and keep writing my friend.
-Blanche-
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Thanks so much for your applause and critique! I appreciate every one I get. I was very glad to finally see the perfect contest to enter it in, thanks for that! ......and thank you for your kind words, I have risen above the pain I think....writing about it most definitely helps......Doc
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WOW!! this is awesome.. i love it so much.... so much heart break im so sorry that you have experienced this and i hope everything is working out for you!! this write is awesome!!
Good luck in my contest!
Shannon*Leah -
AWESOME
Doc,
I'm so sorry it took me so long to get around to reading this. Thanks so much for for telling me about this poem,in your comments on my poem 'Scars'.
I have to tell you that I sit here typing this in a pool of my own tears. The emotions are so raw, and so heartfelt, and so vivid.
I could feel the girl's excitement when she found her dad, and blubbered like a baby when I read where he called her a weed under his family tree.
I'm just at a loss for words.
I'm sorry you were treated this way, as an abused child myself {you know that part already}, I ache for you.
To me what he said to you is abuse.
As much as I feared the beatings I received daily, I hated and hurt even more when my dad said terrible things to me like that he hated me, and wished I were dead.
I actually preferred the beatings, they healed over time, the words he scarred me with, however, never did.
I commend you for your strength, and for the courage in sharing this wonderfully sad write with us all. Take it from me, I know it's hard to put yourself out there like this, so I know how much personal strength it took for you to post this here, and I'm proud and glad that you did.
I feel almost as if I've, in a way, gained a sister in spirit.
~Sherry~
Edited on Dec 22, 4:10 p.m. because ''. -
This is very sad. It is unfortunate and true for so many people...not just of fathers but sometimes of mothers and step parents. Family can be the worst sometimes. It is sad. Your poem is powerfully written. I too have some poems like this in my Family Ties collection. We have much in common. This is a brillant poem. I am sorry you suffered this loss and rejection in your life.
Zayra -
Im so sorry. My dad died when i was little so sometimes i wonder about who he was and stuff. i cant imagine being rejected like that. (tear) Good job on this poem.
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It is very deep and very touchy work. Kindly make little short which you can do .it may come up with a new strength too. My regards and thanks for the invitation to read this great work. and also thank you very much for reading my work again..prabhudayal khattar
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awesome!
Holy crap, talk about talent! This was amazing, and so heartfelt. I'm terribly sorry that you had to endure this. It makes me sort of thankful for my father, though he's a jerk from time to time. This was so well written, I just loved reading it! I'm not sure what else to say about it but, it was really really great.
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Thank you so much for reading it, I know it is very long. Your comment was so sweet and sincere, I appreciate every word. I have really learned alot from this experience, I don't expect ANYTHING from anybody. Hence, no more disappointments. I will read your work, too! Thanks again.....Doc
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excellent writing
This is one of the most sorrowful poems I have ever read. I think you have written about your emotions so well. The hope that you had and then the heartbreak of the reality. It is just so unfair. I think your are a brave and strong person. He should be proud to have such a daughter, I know I would be.
I wish you the very best.
etherealforu
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hey thats really good and really sad i like it alot
~me~ -
I could have been that daughter, you put my thoughts into words. Luckily I never met my father or knew his name. Just another G.I. over here during the war. Good luck with the contest.
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exellent write. i kinda know how you feel seeing as my dad don't want anything to do with me anymore but he was there when i was growing up but never with much support.good luck in the contest
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WELL IT IS A FINELY PENNED PIECE OF WORK WITH GREAT FLOW
THE SUBJECT IS A BUMMER AND I SAY SORRY
GREAT WRITE EMOTIONAL HEARTFELT AND POWERFUL -
sad sad sad
this is so heartbreaking- I bawled! I relate as you know. I also write as my therapy. I find it amazing when these things surface and are brought to life on paper. I dont know how long ago you wrote this, but it always drains the mind and heart when you express these types of things. I hope you are ok! Lots and Lots of hugs from here to there- Harper
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you have bought tears to my eyes..this is so sad..i'm sorry this is a true write for you..very touching..I am so blessed too of had a dad that was there for me and loved me till the day he passed..lost for more words..yet beautifully penned
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So many times this happens, and it's so tragic for the little children who want to know their fathers. Mine died when I was ten, but at least I knew him for ten years, and knew what it felt like to have one. Sure missed him afterwards though. Great write.
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Thank you Comatose, I appreciate every comment I get. I apologize for the length of my piece, but I really had to do it to tell the story and to portray the emotions I wanted to get across. Although it is the longest, I believe it is some my best work. Thanks again..................Doc
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This was indeed a very very very moving piece ...I loved your comments on my work and the way you wrote this was excellent although it was long you had nme glued to the page the whole time ...THANK YOU FOR ENTERING C O M A T O S E.
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I feel the pain in this poem and the heart break the parent has to go through,this poem is formed well with poem flowing with such force of the pen wanting to release her thoughts and you did well with the trauma that this presented..penned well..Linda
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this poem touched my heart ,so sad and has a lot of thoughts of what children go through.. sad sad that the mental problems this creates with each child..Linda
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