Loss of Father Poem

Letting My Dad Go

My dad passed away earlier this year. He had a brain tumor and was on the gurney going to surgery when he suffered a massive heart attack. He was brought back by shock and CPR, spent 10 days in ICU, had multiple organ failure, and was on life support but fought back. Dad came back to us, had 6 weeks for his heart to get strong enough to try and remove the tumor, but a scan showed it was now too big and too late. He suffered 3 further painful months.

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Hi Denise, My father passed November 25, 2017 at 10:28pm. This is exactly the same experience that I had, and he always called me his Baby Girl. Everything you said in here was like a...

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Let Go Dad, Give In

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Published by Family Friend Poems January 2018 with permission of the Author.

My darling Dad, you suffered
More than we could bear to see.
"Please let go, Dad; give in.
Your soul then can be free."

The morphine never touched you.
You would cry out loud with pain.
"Please let go, Dad; give in."
Yet you fought and fought again.

"I'm scared to leave your Mother,"
You had said the week before.
"Please let go, Dad; give in."
But you stayed to fight some more.

"I think the cancer's winning."
It was true, Dad, and you knew.
"Please let go, Dad; give in,"
And finally we got through.

A silent tear fell down your cheek
As you now took you last.
You let go, Dad; you gave in.
Your life then came to pass.

I've cried a million teardrops
And then a million more.
My heart is just so shattered.
My soul is on the floor.

When I am back within your arms
And I feel your warm embrace,
"Don't let go, Dad; hold me, keep me
Your baby girl forevermore."

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • Aisha by Aisha
  • 6 years ago

My father has stage 4 prostate cancer. He is constantly declining. It sucks to see him suffer the way he does.

  • Catherine Wilson by Catherine Wilson
  • 6 years ago

Hi Denise,
My father passed November 25, 2017 at 10:28pm. This is exactly the same experience that I had, and he always called me his Baby Girl. Everything you said in here was like a mirror of our experience. I was there when he died, holding his hand. He, too, cried just one tear as he was leaving, still fighting, still trying to stay. I am jealous as her got to move on...we are left here crushed with loss and an empty space that can never be filled. It is a tragic comfort to know that I am one of many who are trying to cope with the same kind of grief. I am very excited to be reunited with him again one day, to hear him smile and say, "Baby Girl, you're home!" Thank you for writing this. I printed it and will keep it with me.
- Catherine of Toronto, Ontario

  • Denise Holmes by Denise Holmes
  • 5 years ago

Oh Catherine, I feel your loss so much. I cry less these days, but my heart still aches for him. He taught me everything other than how to live without him. I shall be thinking of you.

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