The Last Balloon
How could you Leave so unexpected
Leaving me feeling lost and neglected
While every father’s day
I wished someone would just take it all away
If I could, I would turn the clock back
So I could remember all the piggybacks
You used to give to me
Before my heart was burning so chaotically
Who knew I would have to grow up so fast
After I knew that breath you took was your very last
All the notes in the balloons
We would send up every afternoon
In the chill of November
Notes I could always remember
“I hope heaven is nice, I miss you”
“I hope they celebrate your Birthday, they need to”
“Happy birthday again daddy, I love you”
“Happy birthday again daddy, you’re getting old…
I Miss you”
I wrote notes about getting A’s in school
I wrote notes about things that were miniscule
I shoved them inside the balloon
I watched them while they strewed
I hoped you’d read them with a smile
Because you’d always go the extra mile
For me
One year, the notes would end
I realized you would never comprehend
What I was trying to say
Well, I don’t need you to stay
And linger around for me
Like some old, blurry memory
I had to grow up big and strong like you
Because I knew I had to
Because Life isn’t fair
Because sometimes it’s a nightmare
Sometimes it leads you nowhere
Sometimes you feel like a millionaire
And Sometimes
You have to grow up