Daddy
A poem for William James Edwards by his daughter Alison

You may not have been the best dad but you really weren’t the worst
Of any man I could’ve loved you were the very first
you made me who I am today built me up in your own way
I never ever thought that we would have to face this day
you were strong and sometimes stubborn and cheeky all the while
I’ll miss the stubble on your chin and that massive cheesy smile

The first man to hold me, my first kiss and my first dance
you punished and you scolded but you always gave a chance
You taught me life and how to cope and how to use a saw
showed authority and taught respect so I’d never break the law
You supported and believed in me in your own silly way
no matter what was happening you always saved the day

One day I’ll be a mother with children of my own
regaling them with stories now of things we would’ve shown
of trips to Tintern Abbey, storming castles, throwing stones
how you always ate my mince pies first and refused a mobile phone
stealing all my comics for your daily sit and think
the shock when you first saw and liked my first ever tattooed ink

It hurts that I’ll miss out on things that the other girls will get
but I know that you will still be there with a pint no doubt I’d bet
you’ll be there on my wedding day though I cannot hold your hand
I’ll dance with mum as I should with you before we watch the band
No matter what I know that I will miss you on that day
I always hoped you’d be the one to give your girl away

It breaks my heart to lose you, I’m lost and broken too
It’s hard to see now through my tears, stuck on missing you
You’ll always be my daddy til time comes to an end
I wish I’d had the chance to say you were also my best friend