Abandonment Poem

Poem About Father Not Being Involved

A girl's journey to come to terms with her father's life decisions.

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I'm writing this for all the girls in the world, all the girls who feel like me, like their daddy couldn't hear them. I give each and every one of y'all props, figuring life without pops....

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Guilt

©

Published: February 2006

Promises stitched carefully
Like an old worn out quilt
sewn only to soothe
all your mountains of guilt

You'll never quite know
about that empty scorn
'cause you weren't around
when my daughter was born

You flew us to see you
You weren't at the gate
by the time you showed up
I thought-Too little to late

It took some time
to warm up to the thought
that this man was my dad
Who hoped love could be bought

I'm not saying,
that I loved you any less
it was wondering if you really still cared
That I was left just to guess

I wanted to forgive you
In hopes that you'd see
that left back in your shadows
was a broken, unwanted me

I was left with an image
of a girl on daddy's lap
That would one day grow up
to take another man's crap

You missed a few birthdays,
A Christmas or two
But what really went missing
was the father in you

You were always distracted
when we talked on the phone,
I was part of that old life,
you wish went unknown

Yes, you are my father
that now I don't know
The time keeps ticking,
as your Granddaughters grow

You keep running away,
keep turning your head
Oblivious to all the tears
on my bed that I've shed

I'll stay left behind
in the life that wasn't good enough for you,
Yes, you are my father
Just not the one that I knew

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Yanci Delgado by Yanci Delgado
  • 4 years ago

I'm writing this for all the girls in the world, all the girls who feel like me, like their daddy couldn't hear them. I give each and every one of y'all props, figuring life without pops. Even though the pain never seems to stop, I always tell myself keep your brave face on. You gotta make daddy think you'll be okay while he's gone, but my brave face seems to last only during the day. As soon as the moon comes up, so does the pain. Now he has me thinking, dang what did I do? It's been 11 years, and you haven't bothered to come through. Thankful for mom always holding me down. Shout out to all the single moms; keep making us proud. Dad, we want and need you to tell us how life goes, to come back to us and finish playing your role. I mean, don't get us wrong, we’re getting on with life fine. We just wish it could have been spent with you by our side.

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  • Lisa Bennett by Lisa Bennett
  • 2 years ago

Love this poem. I'm 55 years old, and it still applies to my feelings about my dad. Great job!

  • Nelisiwe Nkosi by Nelisiwe Nkosi
  • 5 years ago

I really need my dad... I've cried so many times but... I need him still :(

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  • Alicia by Alicia
  • 13 years ago

My father left when I was very young, he got remarried to a woman who had 2 daughters and together they had a son. I was nothing. No calls, no cards, no letters, until the day he got sick. I am 21 years old and now my father (43yrs) has leukemia which is terminal. I am finally getting the chance to know him, knowing that he will be gone again soon. I am still trying to forgive him, which I hope to do before he leaves.

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