A Lost That Remains Poem by Eslie Asante

They said I was his favorite daughter
And that he died with my head on his chest
My name
The last word he said
My face
The last he saw
Before he could take his last breath

I saw him laid in state
Thought he was sleeping
But for the first time
Did not alter a word
When I called out to him
But instead
Stirred without blinking
Smiled without stopping
And laid without moving

I was just four
Couldn't understand anything
But sad
That no longer loved me

They took me to stay with auntie
In a room far
And not near
From outside
Could hear loud Cries
Especially that of my mother asked auntie why
She said it's a play
A huge lie for her eyes didn't agree with her
But I did
Wanting to join the play
But auntie proclaimed

Without any obvious reason
Left to obey
Did
Days passed
And so did months and years
Dad seen no more
His little girl grown
But the lost remains
The only thing that changed
Now I understand