Daddy, oh Daddy

...a daughter's love for her father

Daddy, Oh Daddy

 

 

 

 

Daddy, oh Daddy

i never knew

the sound of your voice

speaking my name,

reading me “Alice in Wonderland”

teaching me how

to say my prayers

 

Daddy, oh Daddy

all i have

is a dated smile

in black and white

childhood memories of days long gone

days long gone,

oh Daddy

 

Daddy, oh Daddy

can you see

the woman i’ve become

the little girl i used to be...

now too long gone

too long gone

oh Daddy.

 

 

 

Reviews

[Pete]

so touching. thought-provoking as well. we never really lose the child in us, do we? so pleasant to revisit memories with those closest to us. there's a special bond between a girl and her father. seeking approval. emotional write. the word "Daddy" alone speaks volumes. great piece Kelly ... :)

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thanks, Pete. I deeply appreciate the warmth of your words - and you!

[Gypsy Warrior Queen]

This is beautiful and heart breaking all at the same time. My grand has never known her father per his choice. I was given a large frame when she was still a baby that holds roughly 12 to 15 pics. I was so busy that year I never put our family's pics in it but had it hanging on the wall in our dining room. It became a running joke that those smiling happy models were our extended family ( they looked so wonderful and loving) At 2 she began to point to the young man in the pics and call him Daddy. At 4 the pic still hangs there because she has built a fantasy family from these pics and I don't have the heart to tell her what her dad and his disastrous family is really like. I want her to keep the image that he was a beautiful and loving man as long as her heart will allow. Thank you for this piece. it has allowed me to do allot of soul searching this morning!

[Kelly Scheppers]

I'm glad this conjured up some soul searching for you, Eve. It's a thrill for me having you here. Thank you!

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Kelly. Such a moving poem. A little girl who has only a photograph of her Daddy. My granddaughter who is 17 never knew her Dad. He died when she was 10 months old. She asks questions about him which we try to answer. But we didn't know him well either. Heartfelt writing. I feel for you.

Chris

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you so much, Chris. One of my proudest moments came at a family wedding years ago, when my aunt introduced me to the people at my table, who obviously knew my Dad, as "Charlie's girl". What a rush it gave me...what an absolute thrill it was. You know, I still get chills whenever I think about it - to this day!

[Chris Shaw]

It was the feeling of belonging that made you feel that way Kelly

[sette]

i will always believe that a love of a father for his daughter will always be special

[Kelly Scheppers]

I believe it is too. I only wish I could remember more than I do. Thank you, Sette!

[Lorry]

The dated photograph, cherished, but wished that it could somehow come to life and glimpse us clues of yhe life behind the lens.
photos of my Dad are bittersweet also. He died in 2001, but was ill for so much longer. In all the photos I have, he is laughing and smiling, but what the photo doesnt show is the hacking cough and gasping for breath that followed. As I said, bittersweet.
Sometime the story comes alive in our imagination, when all we long for is to see and feel that person once more.
Beautiful write Kelly, on such a heartache of a subject.

[Kelly Scheppers]

I lost my Dad when I was only six, and barely remember anything about him. His absence in my life has been as constant with me as the moon is with the tide. How wonderful of you to share a piece of your Dad through this - to be able to feel my pain and overwhelming love. A thousand thank yous, Lorry!

[Lorry]

You're very welcome Kelly. I was an adult and can't begin to imagine what that feels like. At 6, I barely remember my first day of school and that I liked meatballs. That compared to memories of people at that age are vague at best and only make those photographs more precious.

[Coyote Poetry]

A sad poem. Things miss, leave us with great questions. I felt the regret and sadness in the words Kelly. Thank you for sharing your words and thoughts. A powerful poem.
Coyote

[Kelly Scheppers]

Thank you for the kindness your words bring me, John.

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome Kelly.