I Held Your Hand

A poem in memory of my adoptive father, the love of my life

 

I held your hand,

And thought about how

When I was small,

We walked to the pond,

You and I, hand in hand,

On our farm in Arkansas

 

I held your hand,

And thought about how

You would ask me to

Stand on the boards

As you sawed them in half

To hold them still

As if my thirty pound body

Could have held anything still

But you wanted to spend time with me

 

I held your hand,

And thought about how

You were there for my baptism,

For the awards ceremony

Honoring my community service

When I was just twelve,

You were there the day

I placed third

In the state spelling bee

To let me know how proud you were

To call me daughter

 

I held your hand

As you told me that

You never felt as if

I actually had to

Be your daughter in fact

For you to love me

As you told me

That loving me was just something

You felt called by God to do

As you told me

How you married my grandmother

Because you loved me

Because you wanted to be

A father to me

Because you wanted

To give me a home

 

I held your hand

As you lay dying

Old and gray

Tired and worn

Gasping for air

But I didn’t see a man

Old and gray

Tired and worn

Gasping for air

 

I held your hand

And saw a man

Who held my hand

As we walked to the pond

Who asked me to stand on boards

To hold them still

Who loved me enough

To be there for the most important

Events of my life

And then loved me enough

To let me go

When it was time

 

I held your hand,

As you lay dying

And thought about

The kind of parent I

Wanted to be

And how,

At the end of my life

I want my daughter

To hold my hand

And be touched by

The legacy of love

I will leave for her

And her children

Reviews

[Michael X]

This is sentimental, timeless, beautifully written, endearing and vivid,
colorful touching, the wording creates a powerful emotional impression on the heart,
transports the heart to another place and time, loving and embracing,
innocent and touching poem, I loved it, thanks for sharing.

[BenightedWhispers]

Ah, I truly loved this. It made me tear up in remembrance of my own adoptive father who I saw as my only true father and my hero. He has passed away as well, and in my weakness, I could not be there when he finally passed. I applaud your piece and how much you loved your father is most certainly felt.

[KAREN BROWN]

this is very over welming to me. my mom died at 43 years old,its very hard to see the ones u love take there last breath. it hurts deep inside but i know what u mean all the good and happy times you shared that could and will never be replaced but we can past all this on to our children and there's.thank you so much for sharing this with me it really means a lot to me really.sorry i haven't read this sooner i was'nt feeling well.im glad i got a chance to today. :)

[lots fo love ♥]

that was very peaceful. good work keep it up

[Forest Green]

Sweet reminiscence...your poem is filled with special moments, moods, bonds of love and contentment.

What cheerful thoughts and pleasant escapes...!

[Antony]

these sentiments are beautiful and sad all in the same, I feel your love spilled all over this page, you possess a wonderful heart and I can feel your pride and adoration for this man. well done.
Antony

[☮]

Wow. This is raw, honest, passionate and endearing. What a beautiful way to remember your guardian angel. What a fine man he must have been. Humans like this deserve memoirs such as this one.

"As you told me
How you married my grandmother
Because you loved me"

Wow. Nice write.