In shadows cast by memory’s flame,
A tale untold, a silence untamed,
The absent parent, a vacant space,
Wrapped in echoes, a haunting embrace.
In every footfall, a question lingers,
Where is the warmth of soothing fingers?
The palm that held, a guiding light,
Now lost in distance, fading from sight.
Oh, absent parent, your absence speaks,
In whispered tears and longing streaks,
A yearning heart, forever seeking,
The love ungiven, forever fleeting.
In dreams, we search for your sweet embrace,
Finding solace in an empty space,
A dance with ghosts, our souls entwined,
Yearning for your presence, undefined.
Yet midst the ache, a strength shall rise,
A resilience born from tear-stained eyes,
For absence teaches, we learn to mend,
To find our own love, and to transcend.
Oh, absent parent, though you’re not here,
Your phantom presence, both far and near,
We strive to heal, to grow, to forgive,
For the love within us, forever lives.
In absence lies a lesson profound,
To cherish bonds that grace us around,
To break the cycle, to be present, true,
And in that journey, find love anew.
MARYANN BOSAH 