Why Isn't Daddy Coming Home? | Teen Ink
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Why Isn't Daddy Coming Home?

May 2, 2014
By Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
More by this author
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

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I didn't understand why my mommy was wearing black.
I couldn’t wrap my head around why daddy wasn't coming back.
He told me he’d be there, as soon as his work was done,
He said he would hug me tight, because he would've won.
My daddy told me he’d come back, and daddy never lies.
I tried to smile as I wiped the tears from mommy’s eyes.
Daddy is strong and tough, he’d never ever leave us,
he’d be back soon mommy, just wait for the green bus.
I looked out the window as Mommy’s car drove by.
We saw an old church, the steeple high in the sky.
I watched people carry a box into a fancy building.
As they passed me, I read the dark and gothic guilding.
My daddy’s name was engraved on the side,
I wondered what it held as they went inside.
Maybe daddy was home at last, waiting for me there.
I could see his eyes, crinkling at my surprised stare.
I rushed the doors, and looked around the hall.
I searched until I noticed a strangely familiar call.
Where is my daddy I asked my auntie G,
In the coffin sweetie, look and you’ll see.
Why was daddy in the coffin? I wanted to know.
Why was he laying there, his skin white as snow?
Then I saw the roses and the sad note.
My heart fell and the voice in my throat.
My lip shuddered in grief as I ran out the room.
I didn't want to think about it, he'd gone to his doom.
I wandered through the hallways, wishing I could roam.
Now I knew the reason my Daddy had not come home.

© Courtney K., Bethel Park, PA

The author's comments:
I wrote this poem to honor all those who have served in the military. Thank you for your service, and for giving yourself the honor of protecting our country.
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JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 23 comments.

EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND said...
on Jul. 25 2014 at 7:47 pm
EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND, Athens, Georgia
81 articles 5 photos 1486 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love is to be vulnerable; Triumph is born out of struggle; We notice shadows most when they stand alone in the midst of overwhelming light.

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Thank you! : ) I will!
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on Jul. 25 2014 at 1:57 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

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Thanks so much! If you like this poem, read "Is Heaven in the yellowpages" :)
EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND said...
on Jul. 24 2014 at 5:29 pm
EmilytheBelleofA. DIAMOND, Athens, Georgia
81 articles 5 photos 1486 comments

Favorite Quote:
To love is to be vulnerable; Triumph is born out of struggle; We notice shadows most when they stand alone in the midst of overwhelming light.

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I've never experienced this, but something similiar to this I've gone through. Why isn't daddy coming home? So good, deep, and inspiring, Liv.Harris. Keep on, please. Thank you for sharing this. 
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on Jul. 6 2014 at 3:15 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank You!
CreativeFreakkk DIAMOND said...
on Jul. 5 2014 at 11:38 pm
CreativeFreakkk DIAMOND, Spencer, Iowa
53 articles 40 photos 204 comments

Favorite Quote:
Stand up for what you believe in even if it means standing alone. -Andy Biersack<br /> Sometimes you gotta fall before you can fly. -Kellin Quinn<br /> You made me hate my own reflection. -Sleeping With Sirens

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This poem is amazing it tells exactly what goes through some kids heads when this happens
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 24 2014 at 11:11 am
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank you! XD
ShadowOfDarkness PLATINUM said...
on May. 20 2014 at 5:07 pm
ShadowOfDarkness PLATINUM, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
20 articles 0 photos 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
Coute que coute(Cost What It May)

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just wonderful
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 20 2014 at 4:52 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank you for your honesty. I really appreciate it.
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 20 2014 at 4:52 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
thank you1 XD
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 20 2014 at 4:17 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank u1 XD
absband SILVER said...
on May. 20 2014 at 2:57 pm
absband SILVER, Newfane, New York
7 articles 0 photos 12 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;WORK IF YOU WANT SOMETHING&quot;

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OMG! This poem is very good and I totally understand how you feel.
Shade3043 DIAMOND said...
on May. 18 2014 at 11:05 pm
Shade3043 DIAMOND, Shade3043 Did This, In Case Of Anonymous, Other
87 articles 0 photos 168 comments

Favorite Quote:
When I was a boy, I would always hear scary things in the news and my mother would say to me, &quot;Always look for the helpers. Everywhere you look you will always find people helping.&quot; - Fred Rogers

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It's really touching, but it's unrealistic. I think that when I was the age when I was calling my parents Mommy and Daddy, I would've definitely known at that point that if my mother was wearing black, going to the church, and was at a funeral, I'd know at least by the time I was at the church that my father had died. I think that the whole "child not knowing" thing was SUPER drawn out, and I would suggest that this would've been better as a shorter poem maybe about the pain a mother feels telling her child that daddy isn't coming home. and also, this isn't a free verse. Not a big deal, but it isn't. It's a touching story. I like it. But it's too unrealistic and predictable for me to LOVE it. I give it a 3/5. 
steffles SILVER said...
on May. 18 2014 at 5:34 pm
steffles SILVER, Glendale, New York
5 articles 3 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
&ldquo;A thousand moments that I had just taken for granted- mostly because I had assumed that there would be a thousand more.&rdquo;

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That was beautiful. Wow.
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 18 2014 at 2:23 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank you, and I agree 100%! XP
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 18 2014 at 2:23 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank u for the comment! :-)
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 18 2014 at 2:22 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank you, and no prob; I love to read other people's work :)
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 18 2014 at 2:21 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thanks! XD
Olivia-Atlet ELITE said...
on May. 18 2014 at 2:20 pm
Olivia-Atlet ELITE, Dardenne Prairie, Missouri
325 articles 10 photos 1165 comments

Favorite Quote:
"To these the past hath its phantoms,<br /> More real than solid earth;<br /> And to these death does not mean decay,<br /> But only another birth" <br /> - Isabella Banks

View profile
Thank you! : )
Sunshine2420 SILVER said...
on May. 14 2014 at 9:57 pm
Sunshine2420 SILVER, Unknown, Other
9 articles 0 photos 173 comments

Favorite Quote:
A smile hides everything.

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It actually made me cry..very touching !
AmericaniumJ said...
on May. 13 2014 at 11:38 pm
AmericaniumJ, Eureka, Utah
0 articles 0 photos 46 comments

Favorite Quote:
Though she be but little, she is fierce!<br /> -Shakespeare

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Amazing! I know how this feels. I lost a cousin that I was very close to the same way. LOVE IT!