I Remember

I remember your war cries
in the night.
I remember you.

I remember you called me
Baby Girl.
I remember you.

I remember you cried
for the lost in Vietnam.
I remember you.

I remember the guitar
solo.
You sang and played for
me
while I sat on your knee.
Daddy,
I remember.

I remember you struggled
with addiction.
You fought long
and hard to overcome.
You finally won.
Yeah Daddy, I remember.

I remember you said,
“You’ll miss me when I’m gone.”
You were right.
I do,
but I’ll see you in paradise.
Yeah, I remember you.

I remember PTSD.
You relived the deaths
of soldiers
and children
over and over again.
You cried.
We cried.
I remember.