Unsung Father s Day

A great number of people come from broken or single-parent households. We all deal with father s day differently because we all feel differently about it. One thing that is very common is confusion of roles and identity. This is a poem to try to express a facet of the complicated relationship some people have with their fathers because father s day cards tend to overlook this increasingly common relationship dynamic. I ve never made you breakfast in bed I never got the chance, you were gone instead. I never looked forward to the weekend s affairs To hope you d show up was too much to bear We had lots of fun whenever you were around But those were times often sought and rarely found I told all my friends that you were the best dad and sat envious of the father they had Such is life in the end, we don t get what we need But we keep on trying despite it to succeed Now after many years I have a new baby of my own How can he have a grandpa when his grandma is alone? If life were a game you d never come in last but your partner, your son, just can t run that fast. So now here we are on two very separate roads and you re still my tragic hero that fills me with woe In the end, I ve learned, so I m not at all resentful you taught me not to put up with what s broken or unhelpful And yet the paradox of my love stays with you And I ll bring up my baby knowing you were great too.