Wish You Were There

When I was small, it seemed to me,
That if I fell and scraped my knee,
I'd need someone to carry me,
You were always there.

You taught me how to read at three,
You helped me with my poetry,
When needed, you encouraged me,
You were always there.

From you, I learned that I could be,
Whatever I desired to be,
I knew that you believed in me,
You were always there.

And when I reached maturity,
You came to mean much more to me,
My friend and father, equally,
You were always there.

In time, you slowed down physically,
And sometimes you relied on me,
But that's the way that it should be,
You were always there.

Although it did occur to me,
One day, you'd not be there for me,
I hid from the reality,
You were always there.

I rang, you didn't answer me,
I hurried to your side to see,
You sitting just where you should be,
But you weren't really there.

You'd gone, you had abandoned me,
I miss your presence constantly,
And words can never comfort me,
Now you're no longer there.