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Poem by Cheryl Costello-Forshey
  
      Her hair 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, on this Daddy's Day
	    
	  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 were searching, for a man that 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 at her friends
	   
	  And looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin
	   
	  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, with me on this 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 he 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 all alone
	   
	  'Cause my daddy's always with me, even though we are apart
	   
	  I know because he told me, he'll forever be here 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 heavens just too far
	   
	  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 placed on her desktop, was a beautiful fragrant pink rose
	   
	  And a child was blessed, if only a moment, by the love of her shining bright star
	   
	  And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far. 
	  
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