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MY DADDY

My Daddy is the real deal, a modern day "Superman"
he's my Man of Steel.

My Daddy is insightful, understanding, a no nonsense type of dude
you may often mistake his meditative silence for someone who is rude.

My Daddy is funny, consciously black, my bodyguard and kind.
Mommy says Daddy was an excellent catch and notorious for being fine.

My Daddy is my role model, friend and male confidant in more than
one way.  I'm happy to have my Father so I can say "I love you"
every day.

** Props to the Fathers who are there **!!!!

Mocha (c) Mocha@africana.com

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DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL

Cute as a button
With pretty pink bows in her hair
She laughs and smiles sheepishly
For in her world, there isn't a care

To her Daddy, she is a jewel
Exquisite and flawless at every angle
For his love shelters her spirit
As he unweaves the web she tangles

So precious is his sweet little rose
With a heart so pure and warm
How can he shield her gentle petals
To prevent her bruising from life's storms

Her eyes have a very special sparkle
And her delicate smile is his sunshine
She compels her Daddy's every thought
And her vulnerable essence absorbs his mind

When and how will she ever grow
So fragile, like a glass she could break
So he protects her as best he can
Paining and aching with every mistake

Not so sure if he can let her go now
Let her fly and spread her wings out into this world
Wishing for more than just fond memories
But for her to be forever, 
Daddy's little Girl

Renee' L. Marshall-Davis (c) RDavis1969@aol.com

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     bitter seeds

and so, he's back again.

      |feelings pushed so far back  |
      |i almost forgot them.  just  |
      |not quite.                   |
      |hurts that really shouldn't, |
      |anymore.                     |
      |at least mine aren't         |
      |thirty plus summers old.     |
      |but, michelle. monica. april.|
      |and yes, me.                 |
      |why'd you forget us?         |
      |why'd you give our time      |
      |to hers?                     |


time to forgive, again.

      |miss my daddy so much.       |
      |my hair-cuttin, burger-buyin,|
      |five-dolla-no-holla-givin,   |
      |belle-isle-takin,            |
      |ride-us-roun-da-corner-in-   |
      | your-lincoln-one-mo-time?   |
      |daddy.                       |


but _you_ forget, again...

      |went all the way down there.      |
      |more than just around the block;  |
      |miles and miles and miles         |
      |travelled for your gotdam smile.  |
      |how ironic. how bitterly so, then |
      |that this time                    |
      |it was me [and my man. and my son]|
      |that church came first instead of.|
      |how ironic. how bitterly so, then |
      |that the turn-er away now         |
      |wasn't mama. it was you, damn you.|


 ...that this time, _you_ threw the seeds.

  bitter seeds
  [thrown in dirt]
  grow to weeds
  [pain and hurt]

bams (c) bams@nichemarket.com

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                learning

                   i
       didn't grow up with my daddy
              guess that's why
                   when
              it comes to men
               very few last
        and i'm always wondering
                   when
                   why
                 and if
           he'll leave my love
        and be just like the rest
               like daddy
              always ready
                 willing
                and able
       to find the next best thing
            to what's already
                the best
   making no roots and never looking back
              long enough
           to see the sadness
          that is now our mess
            full of excuses
                 but
      not the first sign of regret
      i never grew up with my daddy
            and just maybe
       i don't know what to expect
            so i keep trying
                until
             i find a man
         that can put my daddy's
            tattered image
                to rest

Angela "Genez" Singletary (c) asingletary@bcbs-ga.com

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FATHER WHO

Who is my father: father who?, don't 
know him to be; but he has set me free.

Are his eyes brown and hair Black?; would
he want to see me or just go back.

Can you be my father?; or don't you 
to bother.

At least look at me face to face; then
tell me if you want a place.

I've gone this long without a real father;
but I did have someone who wanted to bother

I love you for helping me to be; but now 
that we both know, we are set free.

If we decide to be in one another's life;
I pray that it will not cut like a knife.

Father, Father, Father Who; I hope you
want to know me too...

Tamshi Williams (c) nefftam@hotmail.com

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Momma helped God create your wings,
   But Daddy taught you to fly

He was only sixteen when he married your mom, 
straight from his parents' home, He never got a chance,
to be wild and roam, to go out with the boys to play, 
When he got your mother pregnant, He knew he had to stay.
He was ALWAYS there for you, He stayed when he wanted to go. 
He made a solemn vow, That HIS child he was GOING to know.
Even though it meant that SOME things he would NEVER get to try.

As you grew he BEAMED with pride, You always seemed to know, 
How to tie him up like a Christmas present, a teeny little bow.
He taught you to drive EVERYTHING, a big wheel, a tryke, a car,
You were always Daddy's little girl, and He knew you would go far.
You grew to a lovely young lady, your Daddy was SO proud.
You met this 'Silver-tongued Devil', around whom your parents 
weren't allowed.

He took you from your family, You liked the things he could buy.
Momma helped God create your wings, But DADDY taught you to fly.
Daddy grew silent and sullen, His mood was grey and grim,
Because his little 'princess' no longer needed him.
When you ran away with your friend, We watched this strong man cry.
Because He lived in constant fear that YOU were going to die.

You were willing to do whatever it took, to make him still 
be your friend,
Your Daddy took you in his arms, and welcomed you home again,
He said, "Don't worry 'Baby-Girl', Daddy will find a way."

Your Daddy bought you everything you needed to get by,
Momma helped God create your wings, 
But Daddy taught you to fly.  He yelled and applauded,
When you finished school, We held your son up high, 
Momma helped God create your wings,
But DADDY taught you to fly.

He can hardly hear you talking now, His back hurts, His teeth are gone.
Still He tries to buy WHATEVER you need, to help you get along.
When the two of you argue, I stand silently by, you will miss us, 
'Little-girl' I'll tell you the reason why, "Momma helped God create 
your wings

AND Daddy taught you to fly."

L. K. "Rose" Ford (c) ROSEFORMS@aol.com