Father's Day Gift

Once again that day comes:
Her celebration of the lost.
The name embroidered on her breast
To remember at all cost;

The way his smile lit a room,
It lingers in her brain.
But lurking stronger is that day
Upon which he was slain.

She knew better the sick man
Than her loving, adoring dad
Who couldn't hold his daughter close
Due to a disease he had.

There's only one memory
That keeps strongly in her mind
Back when everything was normal
His eyes sparkled and they shined.

Sitting in his chair one day,
She rested upon his knee
With her head against his chest,
All time seemed to be set free.

What was heard but no the thump
Of daddy dearest's heart
Yet ticking the place she was
soon to have torn apart.

Innocence shone on her face
Asking of the unusual sound.
He told her it was daddy's "heart's clock" -
It was unknowingly ticking down.

Now, today that little girl
Has grown and matured a lot
And with her own camera
She takes one simple shot:

Sitting on the park bench
Is a father and his girl.
Her head rests against his chest;
In his eyes she is a pearl.

She takes the picture of the pair
As the girl's head starts to lift.
"Here Daddy," the child raises a flower,
"It's your Father's Day gift."

After the photograph is produced
At the grave she kneels to pray.
"Here Dad," she lowers the picture,
"In memory of that day."