My Dearest Daughter

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Ijeoma my dearest daughter,
I know I’m the last person you’d want to hear from
I hope you’re happy wherever you are
I pray there’s no pain where you read this from.

With so much guilt in my heart, I write you this
I hope it lessens this pain in my heart;
I hope it somehow helps you forgive me
And it dries the tears in my eyes.

Deep down I feel I didn’t do enough
Because why am I still here and you’re not?
I gave you my word,
I promised you that everything would be alright.

I am the father who failed his child,
I meant every word of the promise I made
And in all my promises, I failed you still
Now all I can do is write you in the grave.