We Might As Well Be Strangers.

There sits a man, alone and so afraid
Watching memories of his life fade,
And beside him there sits a ratty bag,
His old clothes and a cigarettes last drag -
I'll walk by late at night every now and then,
Just to see his reassuring face once again,
Asleep on the bench, shivering from the cold,
A tear falls down as I remember the story he told.
'My baby, when you grow up to be a woman,
There will be no more falling and scraping your shin,
All dressed up in big girls clothes; they'll say,
'There she goes - she's the one to look out for today!''
Your sweet embrace holding me close to you,
As I wiped the tears from your eyes so blue,
The day I fell off my bike flashing before my eyes,
A movie in my head, scripted by all your lies.
And looking down at you tonight, beside this garbage bin,
I let the tears roll down off of my quivering chin,
But when I lay down this note for you, sealed with a good-bye,
I want you to read it and then you will see why,
I can not acknowledge you with a title you do not deserve,
You walked out on us and now we might as well be strangers,
So for the last time, I will hold your hand in mine,
Shrug my shoulders and leave Daddy's little girl behind.

-Jenna Elphick
April 13, 2007