If someone could have told me
These would be the days we would have
If I could have known the precise number
The exact amount of time we would share
If this day would come and not catch me unaware
Still, it would not be enough
And my heart would cry for one more
As a child, we see life as infinite
What is has always been and will always be
Life tries to take that illusion away quickly
So our heart rationalizes loss to others
And we will always be
We spent days on top of days together
We made magic in the eyes of a child
We made playhouses out of sheets and blankets
We made tree houses and pancakes
We made paper airplanes and memories
You tended to my needs and wants
You tended to me when I was sick
You tended to my cuts, scrapes, and bruises
You tended to my heart when it was broken
You carried me when I sleeping
You carried me when I was hurt
You carried me in your arms
You carried me on your back
You carried me on your shoulders
You carried me always in your heart
You taught me reading and math
You taught me how to fish
You taught me how to drive
You taught me how to be brave
You showed me tricks
You showed me lessons
You showed me dangers
You showed me love
I called to you from the crib by your bed
I called to you from the room down the hall
I called you from my broken down car
I called you from my own apartments and homes
I called you and you answered
You stood with me as I took my first steps
You stood with me on my first day at school
You stood for endless photos at graduations
You stood with me when I married
You were one of my life's constants
You were never too far away
You were never too busy in an emergency
You always did whatever you could do
And it was usually just enough
Today
Hurt clouds the mountain of joy we shared
Sorrow obscures the sunshine from our time
Pain stains the fabric of our life shared
Today
I have exhausted my supply of ‘one mores’
While,
We will make no more magic
There is magic to be made
From our treasure trove
Of “Abracadabra’s” and “Alakazam's”
While,
We will make no more pancakes together
Or paper airplanes, or memories
I still have my lifetime of memories
To tend to me
To carry me
To teach me
To show me
To answer me
To stand with me
It seems all of life has lost its order
But, you taught me
Days will come
Days will pass
Life goes on
I will find your hand
Within countless memories
And we will walk and talk
In the days to come
You will never cease to be ‘my Dad’
I will always be ‘your little girl’
© Ron Simpson, Jr.
