Her hair was in a ponytail,
Her favorite dress tied in 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,
About why he wasn’t there today.
But her mother still worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that is 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 walls 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 the looking,
For a man who wasn’t there.
She went to the front of the class,
As she smiled up at her Mom,
And she looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.
And with hands behind her back,
She slowly began to speak.
And from out 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,
Because it’s 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’re 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 chess,
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.
And from somewhere in the crowd of Dad’s
Her mother stood in tears.
Proudly she watched her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.
She finished with a voice so soft,
But it’s message clear and loud.
“I love my Daddy very much,
He is my shining star.
And if he could, he’d be here,
But heaven’s just too far.”