Love Poem: Poem Xiii - Dear Daddy
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Written by: Langeni Mate

Poem Xiii - Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy. You've been gone for so long I can't even tell when Father's Day 
is. The last time I could remember running to wake you up was in Grade 4. I'm 
in Matric now, 8 years since you've done that and 7 since you've been gone. 
Dear Daddy. Why did you leave? Please tell me. I'm old enough to understand 
now. I was only 9 and my boy was 5. Did you know that you left two weeks 
before he turned 6? All he knew was that Daddy went to go visit his family and 
would be back someday.

Daddy take note that I do not cal you Father because I'm still a boy who needs 
to be taught the ways of a man. When I would loose a tooth you'd put a 
quarter under my pillow but a quarter can't change into a dollar now can it? It 
needs to be invested and through time it shall be a dollar. I'm not saying that 
you were never there you just never invested the time you were suppose to 
when I needed you. I remember the days I'd sit on your belly and watch cricket 
with you but understand that life will never be the same without you. Dear 
Daddy I remember when you and Mommy used to dance with me. You loved 
the oldies. Did you know that I can't listen to Luther Vandross - Dance With 
My Father without crying? Please Daddy please may I have one last dance. I'd 
play that song over and over again because I never want you to leave ever. I 
want you to come back and be my Father. I want you to look at me and say 
"My son you are now a man." I don't get how people could hate their Daddies 
when it's a boy's biggest dream to have a male role model.

I sometimes wish I could write letters to heaven so that God could hold in His 
hands a message from a heartbroken son who just wants to see his Daddy 
watch him becoming a successful man. Dear Daddy regardless what you've 
done in the past, what you're doing now or what you're about to do in my life, 
you my paps and I'm your boy. That love will never change.

2014/05/25