Comparing

Comparing Her hair was up in a ponytail Her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was daddy’s day at school, And she couldn’t wait to go But her mommy tried to tell her , That she probably should stay home. Why the kids might not understand, If she went to school alone. But she knew just what to say. What to tell her classmates Of why he wasn’t there today. But still her mother worried, For her to face this day alone. And that was why once again, She tried to keep her daughter home. But the little girl went to school, Eager to tell them all. About a dad she never sees A dad who never calls. There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to meet. Children squirming impatiently, Anxious in their seats. One by one the teacher called, A student from the class. To introduce their daddy, As seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name, Every child turned to stare. Each of them was searching For a man who just wasn’t there. “where’s here daddy at'” She heard a boy call out. “she probably doesn’t have one” Another student dared to shout. And from somewhere near the back, She heard a daddy say, “Looks like another deadbeat dad, Too busy to waste his day.” The words did not offend her, As she smiled up at her mom. And looked back at her teacher, Who daddy, back, one, never, know, eyes, though, teacher, saw, out, love, far, day, dad, child, called, words, told, taught, student, stood, star, somewhere, slowly, shining, room, much, meet, man, knows, just, heard, hand, each, doing