Her hair was up in a ponytail, Her favourite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school, And she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her, That she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone.
But she was not afraid; She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates Of why he wasn't there today.
But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that
was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school,
Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never see A dad who never calls.
There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their
seats. One by one the teacher called, A student from the
class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed. At last the
teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching, For a man who
wasn't there. "Where's her daddy at?"
She heard a boy call out. "She probably doesn't have one," Another
student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to
waste his day."
The words did not offend her, As she smiled up at her Mom. And looked
back at her teacher, Who told her to go on. And with hands behind her
back, Slowly she began to speak. And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique. "My Daddy couldn't be here, Because he
lives so far away. But I know he wishes he could be, Since this is such
a special day. And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know. All
about my daddy, And how much he loves
me so. He loved to tell me stories He taught me to ride my bike. He
surprised me with pink roses, And taught me to fly a kite. We used to
share fudge sundaes, And ice cream in a cone. And though you cannot see
him, I'm not standing here alone. "Cause my daddy's always with me, Even
though we are apart I know because he told me, He'll forever be in my
heart"
With that, her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest. Feeling
her own heartbeat, Beneath her favourite dress. And from somewhere in
the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in tears. Proudly watching her
daughter, Who was wise beyond her years. For she stood up for the love
Of a man not in her life. Doing what was best for her, Doing what was
right. And when she dropped her hand backdown Staring straight into the
crowd. She finished with a voice so soft, But its message clear and
loud. "I
love my daddy very much, He's my shining star. And if he could, he'd be
here, but heavens just too far, You see he was a fireman and died just
this past year
But sometimes when I close my eyes, It's like he never went away." And
then she closed her eyes, And saw him there that day. And to her
mother's amazement,Perhaps for merely a second, They saw him at her
side. "I know you're with me Daddy," To the silence she called out. And
what happened next made believers, Of those once filled with doubt. Not
one in that room could explain it, For each of their eyes had been
closed.
But there on the desk beside her, Was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

Penned by my hand on the 21st of Miraman, in the year 333 AF.