>> > Dad's Poem
>> >
>> > Her hair was up in a pony tail,
>> > 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
>> > of why he wasn't there today.
>> >
>> > 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 was searching,
>> > a man who wasn't there.
>> >
>> > "Where's her daddy today?"
>> > 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 up at her Mom.
>> > And looked back at her teacher,
>> > who told her to go on.
>> >
>> > 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,
>> > since this is 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 how 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 are apart
>> > I know because he told me,
>> > he's forever 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 here 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 sight
>> > 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 heaven's just too far "
>> >
>> > "You see he was a policeman
>> > and died just thirty six months this year
>> > when the airplanes hit the towers and taught
>> > Americans to fear."
>> >
>> > "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 mothers 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 on the desk beside her,
>> > was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
>> >
>> > And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
>> > by the love of her shining star.
>> > And given the gift of believing,
>> > that heaven is never too far
>> >
>> > Her hair was up in a pony tail,
>> > 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
>> > of why he wasn't there today.
>> >
>> > 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 was searching,
>> > a man who wasn't there.
>> >
>> > "Where's her daddy today?"
>> > 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 up at her Mom.
>> > And looked back at her teacher,
>> > who told her to go on.
>> >
>> > 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,
>> > since this is 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 how 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 are apart
>> > I know because he told me,
>> > he's forever 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 here 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 sight
>> > 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 heaven's just too far "
>> >
>> > "You see he was a policeman
>> > and died just thirty six months this year
>> > when the airplanes hit the towers and taught
>> > Americans to fear."
>> >
>> > "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 mothers 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 on the desk beside her,
>> > was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.
>> >
>> > And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
>> > by the love of her shining star.
>> > And given the gift of believing,
>> > that heaven is never too far
