Divorce,
and all the partisan politics
engendered by bitterness
and lawyers' fees:
the days and nights
of guilt and anguish,
of feelings adrift on stormy seas.
Daughter,
you were a buffer between
your parents' resentments
for many years.
An emotional shuttlecock,
batted to and fro,
in that time of tears.
Dreadful
that you had to suffer
for your parents' sins,
normal childhood denied.
Your crumbling face as I said good-bye
will stay with me forever,
even though the tears have dried.
Dearest Daughter,
you are now a woman
and, although the scars remain,
you have weathered the storm.
You have forgiven an absent father
and now, in my twilight years,
your love and friendship keeps me warm.
Author notes
Any constructive criticism will be appreciated.
Written April 12th, 2006
A contest entry
- Anything You Want (#2) by To The Pointe.
400 points, ended August 6, 2006, 37 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Anything. Just Impress Me. by I-Am-Custard.
900 points, ended April 13, 2007, 58 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - . by Aurora Ceres.
700 points, ended November 1, 2007, 74 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Divorce by walkinthereign.
300 points, ended January 19, 2008, 12 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
What did you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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This is a wonderful penning to your daughter, Bill. Having been a child of divorce myself, I can easily see it from both sides. 
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I thought I'd take a peek into some of my favorites older writes...I'm glad I did, as this one hit home with sharp pangs of pain, regret and sorrow. I left my daughters to divorce my ex. It was without question the hardest thing I've ever done. My daughters chose to live with me this past year, and I couldn't be happier. They are my life. Even when separated, we maintained a very close relationship and I am so grateful for that. I could feel every word of this piece, relive it in my mind. Very well done.
Rory
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As a child from a split family myself, I can completely understand where this is coming from. My birth father and stepmother used me and my younger sister to try and hurt my mom... Ironically, he was the one who cheated, but he wasn't happy that my mother had moved on, and that my stepfather was like the dad he'd never been. It would be nice, if he ever wrote my sister and I a poem like this, as an apology.
This is a lovely poem for your daughter, and I wish you and your family nothing but the very best for this year.
Love and light always
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what a beurtiful tribute to your daughter
You have such empathy for your daughter. You know how much pain the divorce has caused her. Something that can not be said for all mothers. My parents went through a divorce so I can really understand where your daughter is coming from. Beautifully written!
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This is an emotional and well written poem. My father left my mother when I was only 10 . . . your words have shone a bit of light on his possible persepective. Thank you for sharing this!
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This is nice, though I didn't like the last stanza half as much as the rest, it was just too easy an ending, unoriginal and as a result lacking the punch that the end of a poem needs.
The line 'your crumbling face' was lovely, and really brought a good image to my mind, and I like that you had a little rhyme, but not so much as to overpower the poem.
The first stanza was REALLY nice and grabbed me straight away, if you can get the rest up to that standard this has a fair chance in this contest. -
Beautiful tribute!
A happy ending and so glad for both you and your daughter! joy
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Thank you, Wolfie, for reading and responding to this. It was quite a painful poem to write, but I'm glad I wrote it.
Cheers
Bill -
wonderful
Brings me to tears. I am so glad you have a good relationship now. Those who have been through divorce know just what you mean. You wrote this well and it is tender indeed.
hugs Wolfie -
Many thanks for your kind comments, Alexa. Most of my poetry is purely imaginative, but this one is definitely based on experience. It was a tough time for all concerned.
Regards
Bill -
This is a beautiful piece to your daughter - emotional, honest, and so heartfelt. I can now see this situation from two perspectives, from the daughter's (as my parents divorced and my father left when I was only 4 years old) and from the father's too. I'm sure it was very hard for you to go through that as well...and I'm very sorry. But, I don't have any criticism for this poem...the rhyme scheme is great and the poem has a beautiful flow, along with it's beautiful message to your daughter. Great work here.
Thank you so much for sharing. Best of luck to you.
- Alexa -
Thanks, James--glad this one came across. I don't often write personal poems, but I wrote this for my daughter.
Thanks once again,
Bill -
Very Good
What can i say, emotionally speaks for itself, as a piece of writing, superb. Well laid out, honest, good structure and even those like myself who have not been through the situation can get a feel of what is happening.
James
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