Changing from a full-time father to a weekend Dad is traumatic. Unless you used only to get home at 9pm and bugger off at weekends for golf. I didnt and the pain of the change is excruciating. I dashed off this verse. Doesnt come close but Ive called it...
Though, the other, and the weekend.
How fine it is, that first embrace
As words rush out with joy apace
How sweet it is that first ‘Hello’
though morrow’s parting lurks below
We laugh , we talk, we smile, we touch
Though time decrees we love too much
We joke ,we dance, we play, we sing
Though stealthy night subdues that ring
Happy dawn ; we wake together
Though real-life begs, we feel forever
The old dread time’s new crushing hands
The young ignore its ruthless sands
The sweetest moment earth stands still
While we lie close, hold tighter still
Unthinkable peace, contentment rule
Hushed tones of love time’s harmony fool
One prepares for ‘then’ , unwilling
The other blind to time’s ‘a filling
One steels for this day’s ‘a ending
The child so better at pretending
Still we laugh, mock time’s bitter cup
Though both know soon the game is up
Naively out our hearts do pour
But moments off our time’s no more
So futile, much silent clinging,
Declares our love’s a bringing
Trying so well to make it last
The hours, the hours! slip ‘way so fast
There’s so much love and left unsaid
Though tearful thoughts best left unsaid
Both wait, we in sore silence bred
Whilst life’s trickster fast forward sped
So you, fair child, must wear the crown
The Queen of all, my heart to drown
Though I’m beyond it, can't hide the pain
You’re so brave you do me shame
It’s time.
One parent up, one parent down
Shared times away, ignore my frown
And neither dare risk no gloating
Just ‘cos their own heart’s ‘a floating
Now comes the awkward, shuffling stuff
Futile delays till one calls “enough!”
Next , another week, it’ll be turn about
Another chance for love, for pain, for doubt
Bring it on, bring it on , and on
All’s so quiet since you’ve been gone
I start, think I hear you calling me !
But no, you're there, not here with me.
To Angela from her Dad.