The Unknown Hero of an Eight-Year-Old Boy that Remained SilentA Poem by Ziggy MatthewsThis is poem 3 of 300 in my 300 poems series. This is about my discovery of my biological dad's first name, and me meeting my great grandmother and great uncle. Perhaps it's real. Maybe fantasy...My cousin Kevin Knew who my Dad was. Never met him. Didn’t even know His name. Hey Zach, come here! His mom and her sister just Told me a bunch of lies About my dad. He’s in prison. He has seven
other kids. He never really
loved you. You were a
failed abortion. None of these things were true, But being a 6-year-old, I clung onto any hope I could. Maybe he did love me? Look at this photo. A picture of a pale, White man in An undershirt and jeans Holding a beer. He had spiked up hair In the picture And a small soul patch. That’s your dad. His name is Tim. I was ecstatic to see The first picture Of my dad That I didn’t Really believe Existed. I started to dream. What is he like? Would he love me? Of course, he would! He’d take care of me. Love me more than My aunt and uncle could. If they loved me, We’d have water and heat Right now, And I wouldn’t have to be At Kevin’s. We ate Mac N Cheese, The cheap kind That sticks yellow goo to Your throat and teeth. His wife walks in. You’ll
never believe who I saw at the store! Who? Tim! D****t! I told you to call me if you ever saw him!!! My mind started racing. Could it be him? The man I looked up to Even though I never met him? Could it be? Sorry! Just
bring him down the street. Fine! Kevin took me to some trailer Where two old people answered The door. This is Tim’s kid. That’s all he said. They both started crying. He
looks so much like him! I just stood there and smiled awkwardly. A kid who weighed no more Then 45 pounds at eight In raggedy clothes We got from a pantry. Who were these people? Do they know my father? I want to be just like him! Nothing happened after that day. No phone call. No letters. No acknowledgement I existed. It was just me Pretending in A fake world Where he actually knew me And loved me. But fantasizing only gets you so far… I spiked my hair to be like him. Waited and waited to hear from him. Wondered if he would be proud of me. If he wanted to know me. If he even cared I existed. Photo by Jesus Rodriguez on Unsplash © 2021 Ziggy MatthewsAuthor's Note
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5 Reviews Added on March 7, 2021 Last Updated on March 7, 2021 Tags: poetry, depression, dad, father, lost dad, abandoned, abandonment, abandonment issues, hero, ziggy, matthews AuthorZiggy MatthewsNEAboutA disturbed "at-risk" child that grew up to become a semi-functional adult and teacher who helps other "at risk" children become semi-functional adults. Writing is my therapy and passion. Realistic fi.. more..Writing
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