I Remember It Well

This is something I wrote recently and that I feel quite proud of.

"Your wife and daughter may not make it."
Did you ever wait for just a minute?
Just a second to see if we were putting up a fight?
Just an hour to see if we were alright?
A part of me thinks you knew, you knew we wouldn't go in the light.
A part of me thinks you were just too scared.
Too scared of having another little being there.
Too scared of not being able to please your wife.
Too scared of having such a beautiful, beautiful life.
Leave, comeback, leave, comeback
Did you know that had an impact?
No of course not, you never knew.
You just messed her up and pretty soon she had two.
On July the second, she had Ri.
Two weeks after that, you said good-bye
You stayed in the U.S for two more years
Not once dropping by, to show up you were here
Did you know that we were constantly sick?
Do you know that pain you inflict?
Did you know that we both nearly died over five times?
Do you know how many times you've made her cry?
I remember the first time I heard your voice
And to this day, I wish I had the choice
Mr. Limb don't you think it's the tiniest bit sad?
For your only daughter to wish to never hear her own dad?
It was a month before my sixth, I remember it well
Mama got me up from bed, saying someone was on the phone for me
The father who was a complete and utter mystery
You said "Daughter, I know it's your birthday!"
In my mind I'm thinking "Are you talking to me?"
So now you want to pretend to be there?
So now you want to pretend to care?
Oh, so now I'm your daughter?
Last time I checked, I didn't have a father
When mama was working jobs left and right,
Where were you?
When mama started passing out because she couldn't find the time to sleep at night,
Where were you?
When me and Ri blew out that single candle on our birthday cakes,
Where were you?
When Orion couldn't hear till the age of three and mama had to constantly take us to surgeries,
Where were you?
I lost my first tooth after biting on a corn-dog stick. It was 3am and mama took us all out to eat to celebrate,
Where were you?
When I stopped breathing in the middle of the night and mama was so, so petrified because she didn't know if her daughter would make it through the night,
Where were you?
When Orion started having disabilities and questioning where in the world his father could be,
Where were you?
And for every single family trip where we laughed and played, smiling, wishing to stay for only one more day,
Where were you?
Nowhere, you weren't a part of any of that
On the month before my sixth, you promised me one gift
A small blue velvet dress
And on the day of my sixth, do you know who got me that gift?
My mama, my mother got me that gift.
I may not have a picture perfect dad but I'm very, very happy with the one parent I do have.
And with her, I know I can complete
The very, very long process
Of becoming me.

Author's Note

Any and all reviews are welcome! Thank you very much for taking your time to review!

Reviews

[Harley (arbiter)]

shabam! bingo yhatzee survey says correct this was a GREAT poem. my dad hasnt been there for me either but in a different way. he traded me for a truck. anyway i loved this and you need to keep up the good work

[D.]

A lot of emotion. You have every right to be proud.