For my father, Eric Ray Dudley
Dear Daddy, I remember
The trip to live with you.
I thought the pain was over.
I had dreams to pursue.
Dear Daddy, I remember
The grin on your face.
Somehow that got lost
In a darkened haze.
Dear Daddy, I understood
That you were hurt.
I understood I was sacrificed
because you couldn't lose her.
Dear Daddy, I don't blame you
for someone else's plans.
You were trapped like me.
It made it hard to stand.
Dear Daddy, you saved me
when you let me go.
Your sacrifice has gone
without being known.
Dear Daddy, I missed you
when we couldn't speak.
But I remember what you did
was because you loved me.
Dear Daddy, you left me
to save me from another's hurt.
You couldn't tell anyone
because they would tell her.
Dear Daddy, I love you
and you showed that you loved me.
You saved me from pain.
You allowed me to breathe.
Dear Daddy, thank you
for keeping me alive.
For putting me first
At that time in my life.
