Dear Pops

Dear Pops,

I write this letter to give you thanks

Thanks for the nights you never came home

Thanks for all the hugs and kisses you missed

Thanks for never coming to my shows.

Did you know we were struggling?

She was one mom

With three kids

Balancing two jobs

What kind of math is that?

You promised her you’d stay around,

You said you loved us to the moon and back.

Or was that only to hush us up?

To make us smile before you walk out?

Other children came home to their fathers

So why did I have to travel

Hours and hours

To see you in an orange jumpsuit

Handcuffed, behind bars?

All I wanted was my daddy

To tuck me in at night

To call me his princess.

Instead I got a deadbeat.

But thank you.

No really, thanks.

In your absence

I learned what you showed me so well,

To care for no one but myself.

So thank you.

Cordially yours,

Stephanie