A father's lament

My sweet first born

I remember when I held you

And your mum was so ill

I made you lifetime promises

And I sung you to still

 

You first word from your mouth

Your face angelic and bright

The gentle rocking and feeds

bringing the quiet of night

 

I remember your first steps

Oh baby girl, I so do

To your first day of school

You becoming sweet you

 

My little one always

I held you first in my arms

And I looked into your eyes

Those same promises

Before broken, I’d certainly die

 

‘Da’ was your first word

I even got your first smile

You’ve grown too fast little one

It seemed just a while

 

You, my youngest

For you I have no fear

You will go on to conquer

Each and every year

 

I made each of you those promises

To always do my part

Raise you as Christian girls

With a strong good heart

 

I broke each of those promises

By proxy broken to your mum

Your father lies here broken

Without you zero is my sum

 

I would give everything

To hear you quietly breathe

Safely sleeping near to me

My broken heart retrieved

 

This father’s lament

Each night girls I cry for you

And I wish upon every star

How much I do love you

No matter near or far

 

I fear that I’ll miss those moments

No matter how common they seem

That wonder, laughter and joy

Where your beautiful faces beam

 

O’ my daughters I miss you so

But some things I cannot change

I fear that my prayers unanswered

And from you I’ll remain estranged

 

Tonight I’ll howl at the heavens

Tomorrow much the same

My promises to you broken

Your dad holds all the blame

 

I would give everything

No punishment so severe

To hold you in my loving arms

And bring you warmth and cheer

 

But tonight the cold ground I lay on

Tomorrow much the same

My promises to you broken

Your dad shoulders all the blame

 

--william paris