Poem: “A Sonata for Pa,” by Miriam Wagoner

What life presented to us was unordinary,

Fate was not generous with time,

It did not let you, in my hammock,

To sing lullabies.

All along, I craved for that moment,

To be with you,

And to sing for you instead,

Your unsung lullabies.

Time and space made it impossible

To be together

And to know each other more.

Though now you’re forever gone

It’s comforting to know

You’re with me — wherever I go.

You’re the silver cloud that guides my way,

The ocean waves that unceasingly rush to shore,

Quietly, sometimes, loudly

Reminding me “My child, I love you.”

No time and distance can come between us now,

You’re the wind that embraces me tight,

The star that’s my dark night light,

A peaceful sonata that drifts me into sleep,

A beat in my heart that whispers,

“I love you, too, my Dad.”

Miriam Wagoner wrote this poem in honor of her father, Rolando Cortes, who died in October of 2016.

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