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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Write in the POETRY genre (05/17/07)
The Other Guy


Every time you spoke his name
A piece of me would die
How could you have possibly known?
So well I kept it inside

I hid the urge to cry out loud
I buried it deep within
Never wanting you to struggle
The way I did with him

He was the one of record
By blood his place reserved
I was the Johnny-come-lately
What more did I deserve?

Through the years I stayed and I loved you
Just like you were my own
You loved me too and I know that
Though in part, it seemed only on loan

It was I who was your role model
It was I who gave quality time
It was I who tried to be there
When he you could not even find

I watched as you grew in stature
I watched as you followed your dreams
I watched as he basked in the glory
I watched and I smothered my screams

What rights could I possibly have?
I was just the other guy
It was he who had given your seed of life
Still, for you, I would gladly have died

Every time you called him Daddy
Through my heart an arrow was shot
Every time you called him Daddy
It reminded me of my lot
Every time you called him Daddy
You never seemed to see
Every time you called him Daddy
That I wanted it to be me
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Dee Yoder
05/25/07
Your poem reminds me of how important the "other" parent can be to the growth of a child. You accomplished your goal to paint a picture of how it feels to be in those shoes.
Patricia Trimarchi
05/25/07
Very Beautiful...Been there in a different way and know by your candor and sensitivity here that you have surely lived this...thankyou for putting words to those feelings many of us have experienced in broken family situations...I hope you have experienced healing in this and if not, let me tell you it will come. Sounds like you had or have the love for this child to take that "lower seat" with grace, for the child's sake...God Bless you for that! You have done the right thing. Pat
Donna Powers
05/25/07
Your heartfelt cry is clearly expressed here, and it's easy to understand your anguish. This is well written
Monica Raye Daly
05/26/07
You give word to how I feel. this is such a beautifully moving work of art, I love it.
Jacquelyn Horne
05/26/07
Heartbreaking. How true this is, I'm sure, in many cases.
Trevas Walker
05/27/07
Very well written, sadly I can relate to this one, in a slightly different way. You did a good job expressing your anguish.
Rhonda Clark
05/29/07
I could feel the pain in this. So much sadness. Great work.
Janice Fitzpatrick
05/31/07
Wow! This sure tugged at my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Very nicely written. Keep up the good work and if this is something you or a loved one has experienced personally I pray that the Lord heals the hurts that come from living through this situation. God bless your gift and insight and praise God that there are many who love like a father and mother. They will be called blessed, though maybe not always down here through human lips, but the jewels that God provides one day in heaven surely will outshine the praises on earth. Janice