Come take my ancient hand, you have nothing to fear from me.
Come touch my wrinkled skin and see who you will be
For I am as young as you inside, and you are as old as I
And I can teach you how to live, but you cannot teach me to die.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Daddy's Girl
This poem was not written by me, but it is one of my favorites and I share it with you now.
Her hair was up in a ponytail Her favorite 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 sees 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 favorite 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 back down, 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 heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman And died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers And taught Americans to fear.
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, She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, Who knows what they felt inside.
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.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, By the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far
Her hair was up in a ponytail Her favorite 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 sees 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 favorite 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 back down, 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 heaven's just too far.
You see he was a fireman And died just this past year.
When airplanes hit the towers And taught Americans to fear.
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, She witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children, All starting to close their eyes.
Who knows what they saw before them, Who knows what they felt inside.
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.
And a child was blessed, if only for a moment, By the love of her shining bright star.
And given the gift of believing, That heaven is never too far
The Handprint
As I was walking along the beach,
I gazed into the sand
A footprint here, A footprint there
And the impression of a tiny hand.
As I stared down at that handprint
It seemed to tell a tale
A little boy, or a little girl
With a shovel and a pail.
I could see it clear, two little kids
Just playing in the sand
Laughing and building sandcastles
That for years they hoped would stand.
As the tide and weather change,
So does sand my friend
But through the months of many years
Remained the impression of that tiny hand.
To me it was like a monument,
A prehistoric find
To some it's just a handprint
It's all in your state of mind.
So next time you are walking on the beach,
Gazing into the sand
And you find a set of footprints
And the print of a tiny hand.
Think back on yourself as a child
Building castles in the sand
Walk around that print, don't step on it
For that print could be your hand.
I gazed into the sand
A footprint here, A footprint there
And the impression of a tiny hand.
As I stared down at that handprint
It seemed to tell a tale
A little boy, or a little girl
With a shovel and a pail.
I could see it clear, two little kids
Just playing in the sand
Laughing and building sandcastles
That for years they hoped would stand.
As the tide and weather change,
So does sand my friend
But through the months of many years
Remained the impression of that tiny hand.
To me it was like a monument,
A prehistoric find
To some it's just a handprint
It's all in your state of mind.
So next time you are walking on the beach,
Gazing into the sand
And you find a set of footprints
And the print of a tiny hand.
Think back on yourself as a child
Building castles in the sand
Walk around that print, don't step on it
For that print could be your hand.
YOU !
Sitting at your grave site, none of it seeming real.
People saying "I'm sorry for your loss" or "I know just how you feel".
I remember you; Laughing, Loving, Dancing, Smiling
I picture you; Elegant, Beautiful, Glowing, Curious
We met while still in high school, you were the quiet girl in her shell.
I passed you during lunchtime, It was at that moment that I fell.
We dated; Movies, Dinners, Walks, Talking
We loved; Passionately, Yearning, Faithful, Abandon less
We married when I was 21, and you yourself just 20.
We bought a small two room house, you assured me it was plenty.
We decorated; Tasteful, Expensive, Stylish, Modern
We celebrated; Birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Valentines
It happened one cold winters night, I insisted that we go.
The roads were wet and icy, it had just begun to snow.
Sounds; Screaming, Screeching, Sirens, Cries
Words; "Is anyone hurt", "Are you O.K.", "You need to let her go", "Sir, she's gone"
I've loved no one but you my sweet, I love you now in death.
When a vengeful God felt that he should take from you your breath.
The service was beautiful my dear, I know you would have approved.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house, everyone was moved.
The seasons have changed many times, my hair is turning gray.
I sleep alone every night, I miss you everyday.
I reach for you when dreams get bad, just to find that you're not there.
I curl up against your pillow, I can still smell your fragrant hair.
As I sit here at your grave site, none of it seeming real.
My fingers trace your name in stone, A coldness I still feel.
I talk to you as once I did, I tell you about my life.
I cry for you, my heart still aches, I crumble from the strife.
I place a rose upon your tomb, I wipe the tears away.
I tell you that I miss you, and I love you more each day.
I stand up and brush myself off, I blow you a tender kiss.
My life is not what I planned, losing you was a cruel twist.
I miss you love, and this I know, it's you I won't forget.
But I am still alive, and not ready to join you yet.
You were taken from me, young and sweet, it seemed it was your fate.
But I know that I will hold you again...soon my Love...someday.
People saying "I'm sorry for your loss" or "I know just how you feel".
I remember you; Laughing, Loving, Dancing, Smiling
I picture you; Elegant, Beautiful, Glowing, Curious
We met while still in high school, you were the quiet girl in her shell.
I passed you during lunchtime, It was at that moment that I fell.
We dated; Movies, Dinners, Walks, Talking
We loved; Passionately, Yearning, Faithful, Abandon less
We married when I was 21, and you yourself just 20.
We bought a small two room house, you assured me it was plenty.
We decorated; Tasteful, Expensive, Stylish, Modern
We celebrated; Birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Valentines
It happened one cold winters night, I insisted that we go.
The roads were wet and icy, it had just begun to snow.
Sounds; Screaming, Screeching, Sirens, Cries
Words; "Is anyone hurt", "Are you O.K.", "You need to let her go", "Sir, she's gone"
I've loved no one but you my sweet, I love you now in death.
When a vengeful God felt that he should take from you your breath.
The service was beautiful my dear, I know you would have approved.
There wasn't a dry eye in the house, everyone was moved.
The seasons have changed many times, my hair is turning gray.
I sleep alone every night, I miss you everyday.
I reach for you when dreams get bad, just to find that you're not there.
I curl up against your pillow, I can still smell your fragrant hair.
As I sit here at your grave site, none of it seeming real.
My fingers trace your name in stone, A coldness I still feel.
I talk to you as once I did, I tell you about my life.
I cry for you, my heart still aches, I crumble from the strife.
I place a rose upon your tomb, I wipe the tears away.
I tell you that I miss you, and I love you more each day.
I stand up and brush myself off, I blow you a tender kiss.
My life is not what I planned, losing you was a cruel twist.
I miss you love, and this I know, it's you I won't forget.
But I am still alive, and not ready to join you yet.
You were taken from me, young and sweet, it seemed it was your fate.
But I know that I will hold you again...soon my Love...someday.
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