A Letter To Gabriella
Should you find these words, and read them, one day-
Then, perhaps, any lingering doubts you may
Have had about my truth, will be erased!
If only you were privy to all the hopes emplaced,
All the wants of a Father, forlorn by his absence-
All the aspirations, rife, with the glory of your pleasance-
Then you would realize, any different thought
Would be tragic-as the truth, it would be, not!
I have come to accept that your mind may have been poisoned,
Though realize, as my Daughter, surely you questioned
All manner of assertions that may have been averse to me-
And reserved judgment, at least until we converse, to see
Where the truth really does lie;
As to why you have been deceived, or why
We have been forcibly estranged, for so long-
Suffice is to say, some know right, yet choose wrong-
And, unfortunately for us, one of them is charged with your guard!
I am sure you have gathered as much-it is not hard
To discern a person's essence, from how they treat
Their children-without so much as an attempt to be discreet,
You became a pawn, behind which a coward hid!
I shall never forget the damage done by what she did-
Nor could I-I have scars, mental and physical, both very real!
However, the most tragic part is that she was allowed to steal
Away the most precious gift I have ever been given-
And with it, all that for which I have so long, striven!
This cancer was emboldened and enabled
By a non-existent system, that had been fabled
As 'the great equalizer'-yet, sadly I have not seen this!
For, all who assume equality, surely have never been this
Mired iniquity as have I, and by extension, you-
The answer has been to fight fiercely-what else could I do?
Each day that passed without you was like another death-
Each battle I fought, I awaited with bated breath,
An outcome where your best intentions were advanced!
Alas, days became weeks, then months danced
Past, to become years-all the while, without you!
No one but I, has made it all about you!
My heart has bled for you, for many years-
My mind has oft-thought, and caused so many tears,
Not just for my loss, but your's as well-
The profound nature of which was nearly my death knell!
I will never stop fighting until the fighting is done-
Until I bear witness again, to your grace, it has not even begun!
-Maurice Harris,14 May 2011
poem by Maurice Harris
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