Wednesday, July 24, 2013

1985



In 1985
Stephanie was nine,
when her father,
whom she had not seen 
since she was an infant,  
arrived in a limousine
to glad-hand her
around the town,
and dazzle her with how life could be
outside our little house,
with its shortage of food
but abundance of love and laughter.

Like a comet
he hit her solid little world head-on
and rocked its foundation,
making her wonder
when he left town
(walking, since he had blown all his money
on the dazzle, and taking back the $50
he had given her)
what life with a dad
always around might be,
and why she wasnt enough
to make him stay.

posted for Alan's prompt: 1985 at Poetry Jam. Pick any year, I have more material than I can live long enough to write, hee hee.

24 comments:

  1. How sad Sherry ~ But maybe its for the best for the child(ren) ~

    Have a good week dear ~ next time we will to the Vancouver Islands and see your beautiful beaches ~

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  2. No child should have to go through something like that. How very sad.

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  3. It's better for a parent to not be there, if all they leave behind is sadness. Lovely write, Sherry.

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  4. This is sad, such a bitter pill to swallow. Some people should not be parents~

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  5. What an adorable picture, Sherry. How could anyone break the heart that goes with a face like hers? The man deserves to be hit with a horse-whip.
    It's hilarious that he had to walk out of town but horrible that he took back the money he'd given her.
    Hit more than once with a horse-whip, I say.
    Luv, K

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  6. why she wasnt enough to make him stay...that is such a hard reality...so many questions, esp when the parent you are with is still around but not with you...what a nasty trick he tried to pull as well...ugh...seen it, had to pick up the pieces...

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  7. Awwe this is sad - friggin 80's men were big on running away. It actually good shot of reality.

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  8. Oh Sherry..that is really hard . It would have been better if he had just stayed away
    permanently.Some of the best and successful people I know come from single mother families.x

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  9. ...'why she wasn't enough to make him stay' --- ah, this break my heart... why, indeed? the answer seems forever to figure to fully digest its validity... i can only sigh on a sad note like this.. smiles...

    p.s. »» i sent you an e-mail last 07/16/2013, 8:21 PM & 07/24/2013, around 6:06 AM Manila, Philippines Time.

    Good day!

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  10. I was just here today, and here you are with another poem…I was divorced in 1999 and remarried in 2000. Until today, my ex and I talk and visit. Recently we had a family meeting, him, me and our two eldest girls. After all these years, it was a good experience to be able to sit across the table and talk to the girls, sharing our joint concerns as parents.

    So I must be lucky, but at the time I was as crazy and angry as a wild horse. I am sorry both you and Stephanie had to go through that phase of life, even though you did come out stronger.

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  11. Hard to read Sherry ... Stephanie was blessed to have you as leader of the pack.

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  12. That was just a heart breaking scene and i wanted to just run out and hug. Great poem and really made me think.

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  13. How sad this must have been for her and for you. I know what it's like to have a missing father. Still, I know you did your best to fill the vacuum he left. Stephanie is so lucky to have a loving mother.

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  14. To be honest, from the sounds of it, she is lucky he left and stayed away. Richness of love and laughter far surpass the dazzle, lies, and falsehoods he offered.

    Elizabeth

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  15. wow- a sugar daddy that really was a lemon.
    Whew.
    Thanks for sharing this.

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  16. This hit close to home, Sherry. One of your commenters said, " ...friggin 80's men were big on running away." The one I'd been married to was definitely big on it, especially when it came to his kids.

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  17. This is so tough. I don't understand how a parent could abuse a child's heart like this.

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  18. Oh, this is so sad!No child should go through this...heart-wrenching piece, Sherry.

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  19. beautiful words....lovely lines!!

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  20. OH, this is sad, well written, but sad. So many little girls and boys are asking that same question.

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  21. For good and for bad children are hit full force by the actions and words of their parents

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