I wrote this poem and I can't share it on my poetry page on Facebook because my dads family are on there and I don't want to upset anyone, even though they know what he's like.
The Forgotten Daughter
This is difficult to write as Father’s Day approaches,
As I sit here feeling forgotten as the sadness encroaches,
And I think of all the memories you will never be a part of...
Of every memory of my children, right from the start of,
From the very beginning you didn’t want to know them,
Or be the grandad I had hoped for, your wisdom to show them,
For you never want to bother to be there in our lives,
Seldom memories I hold now, many deep in the archives.
So long forgotten that they do not know your face,
Such awkwardness now if you even tried to embrace,
Because where have you been all the years that were lost?
Was it for your happiness? And at what cost?
I am such a good person, I care with all my heart,
And your grandsons are amazing as they’ve been right from the start.
But we’re the forgotten ones as you push on with your future,
And the emotional hurt you’ve left me with still stings through the sutures.
But I’m a better person than you, I give my all to my two boys,
I will always be there for them through their sadness and their joys,
And their father, unlike you, will support them all his days,
Because that’s what fathers do, kids aren’t just a passing phase
To pick up when it suits you, to show off when it’s just right,
And then forget them for months on end, not a word or text in sight.
It’s always me that contacts you, you never think to first,
And always me who sends the cards, not you, that hurts the worst.
And I’d like to say that’s it from now, no cards, I’ll wipe you out.
But in reality I just don’t know, for I will always have that doubt.
The abandonment is real, no matter of my age,
And even though I have so many family on my page,
The ones who’re there, no matter what, when you were never there.
They loved me like their own, and in my life they would share.
So you don’t deserve this anguish that I very often feel,
You don’t deserve to hurt me, or any more of my tears to steal.
So this Father’s Day I hope you’re well, and I mean that, I really do,
But unless you change your ways then I fear that we are through,
Because I won’t allow myself to broken by you any more,
And I need to finally learn to forever close that door.
There’s more like me, I’m not alone, we are out of sight and out of mind.
And I hope that one day we all find strength to leave the sadness all behind.