Real dad's don't leave

I could have used the love that all the others had
For any sort of guidance I borrowed my little brother's dad
To mask the pain and the rain I'd let myself get mad
If not today, someday, you'll be the one who's sad...

"Daddy, daddy, where you at?
You never did show me how to swing that bat.
I got my helmet and my face paint, let's play combat.
Are you ever comin' back? Was I too much of a brat?"

"Daddy, daddy, where you been?
You missed my first ball game, my team's first win.
We took state that year, a lucky three banked in.
Are you ever comin' back? Did I get under your skin?"

"Daddy, daddy, why ain't you here?
You didn't even visit when they tacked on another year.
I could've used a letter livin' on that tier.
Are you ever comin' back? Did I make you disappear?"

"Daddy, daddy, when you comin' through?
You dodged my bachelor party and my wedding, too.
You missed the birth of my angels, all three wore blue.
Are you ever comin' back? What did I do?"

"Daddy, daddy, why am I so naive?
After all these years, I still wanted to believe..."
When my own marriage failed, one thought I could never conceive
is bailin' out like you did, 'cause real dad's don't leave.

The world needs more poems like this one, because we have an epidemic of missing fathers. I have three boys too, and I can't imagine raising them without a father. Their tough little critters, and they need a strong man to lead them.
God Bless

this strikes a deep chord.