Hot off the press

[Tony Radford]

Next, you guys will be saying I'm trying to spark a BB vs SB debate. All I did was write a story in rhyme. I'm innocent!

And if you keep it up, I'll post one that's guaranteed to make you cry.

[Tony Radford]

Daddy’s Girl
By Tony Radford

She felt such dread when the doctors said “A child you’ll never bear”,
your family tree, a damaged seed, an act you shouldn’t dare.

A risk denied, so hard they tried and finally got their way,
when darling little Alice came on a joyous summer day.

They’d cheated fate, an early date, so frail and premature,
though small in size, a parent’s prize, so innocent and pure.

Seven years would come and go, a beauty she would be,
a love for nature, mom and dad, a spirit young and free.

No one knew why she never grew, so delicate and small,
not like other kids her age who’d grown up strong and tall.

A tiny frame, a golden mane and eyes of liquid blue,
the angels’ choice, a whispery voice as soft as morning dew.

Alice was a daddy’s girl and always by his side.
“My daddy is an Army man”, she’d tell her friends with pride.

But drums of war on a distant shore would call her dad away,
a soldier proud, a cheering crowd, a price he had to pay.

The sky was stained with clouds and rain on the day that he’d depart,
though proud she’d be, to see him leave would only break her heart.

Looking clean in fatigues of green he hugged his little doll,
“Now you be good and mind your mom, I’ll see you in the fall”.

He breathed a sigh as he waved goodbye, his tears he couldn’t hide,
so long a stay, to be away from his baby and his bride.

She waved and squeezed her teddy bear she’d had since she was two,
a present from her favorite dad, the little bear named Boo.

Every day, the mailman came, a note she’d hope to find,
a written kiss from the dad she missed, to know she’s on his mind.

He wasn’t gone for very long when tragic news arrived,
his men he saved as battle raged, but bravery took his life.

With broken heart beyond repair, her health began to fail,
her youthful glow would shine no more, her body growing pale.

Wrapped so tight in a gown of white and little Boo close by,
for days she’d wait to learn her fate, her mom right by her side.

“We suspect a heart defect” - her mother’s greatest fear,
the news was bleak, her heart so weak, the end was growing near.

Alice was to be released, there was no need to stay,
he promised that a nurse would come to visit every day.

Her mommy asked, “What can I do to make my girl feel better”?
She thought a while and then she smiled, just read me daddy’s letter.

A Mom and daughter lay in bed all snuggled side by side,
she read the note, the words he wrote while both broke down and cried.

The sixth of May, her final day, awakened from a dream,
a wingless angel by her side all dressed in Army green.

A soothing and familiar voice said “Alice, time to go,
your daddy’s here, no need to fear, I’ve come to take you home”.