Poetry submitted by Sarah on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at 9:47AM :

Fatherless Day

Sunday is Fatherless Day
At least it is for me.
It forces me to remember
What will never be.

I will never have a father again
The man that I admired
I will never feel his hug
Or hear his words that inspired.

I mourn the loss so much today
And I can’t tell you just why
But I miss him very much today
And I fight my urge to cry.

This Sunday I will have to sit
With my husband and his kin
And pretend that I celebrate Dad
While I am dying within.

I went through this last year, too.
So why I am filled with fear?
I cried my way through that day
And survived my first year.

But this year it’s hit me harder
Than I ever thought it could.
It has knocked me on the ground.
And I didn’t think it would.

The pit of despair I have found
I walked, again, across its path
And so this week I move forward
Swallowed, overwhelmed by its wrath.

But in the darkness there is peace
And I know I am not alone
For my friends went there with me
And they will lead me home.

I will make it through Sunday
And survive this horrible day
I will not let it defeat me
I will survive…my way.

Sarah Sharpless
June 12, 2003