we never spoke about the future, he and I
never had that talk that most seem to have
at some point or another in time,
I wonder if somehow he knew deep inside
he wouldn't be there in any future, why bother
looking towards tomorrow when all we had was this day
right now
the present
this moment ...

maybe we were too young
too naive to even notice
the hands of time, how they move forward
tick, tick, ticking
relentless,
regardless

I wonder if he realized the impact
even on our young souls
an absent father can make
I wonder if this is the reason for my emptiness now
I don't begrudge his leaving
it was just too damned soon
and all I have are these memories, now vague
and fading with each passing year
no more tears but rather a quiet resignation
of the facts

quiet contemplation
silent
no active conversations
just a presence of someone who was there,
provided as best he could
for as long as he could

I think we're O.K. now or at least we're alive
some of us married with children
as for me, I was once but that didn't last
what would you have said about that
if you were still here
to share

fathers and daughters, such a special bond
uniquely exquisite
a pattern to follow
what if that father is gone?
how does the daughter go on...

01/17/2008

Posted on 01/17/2008
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