Daddies Don't Cry : Ballad of Tra'

by Scott, Lionel

• ISBN13: 9781468540109
• ISBN10: 1468540106
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-03-13
• Publisher: Textstream

Summary

This is a writing for men, those who value the influence of a father on the character development of his children and teens who choose to runaway. The poetry is the result of a daughter running away from home. National statistics show that as many as 70 % of current and former inmates sited a broken or nonexistent relationship with their father as the major negative aspect of their lives. The author travels a gamut of emotions in an effort to recapture and redefine himself as a father and man. In the writings it is obvious that he feels separated from himself. Anyone who loses a child can relate to such a feeling. He speaks and also listens to the daughter. He believes if he becomes the cosmopolitan parent he will gain her. His emotions jog the distance from anger to sadness to hate to self-blame to temporary insanity. The book is organized in six musical sessions. In the first the daughter speaks in an authentic voice of adolescence. The father then responds with tender words that he believes will remind her of the value their friendship. Afterwards, the father and mother express their deepest fears as they relate nightly their concern for the daughter. Session four sounds like a series of songs of hat. Fortunately the father, who sings lead, completes the performance quickly. Session five finds the father not as agitated. He sings tunes that he hopes his daughter will listen to one day. The final session may be the best writing of the sessions. The father leaps through several genres of musical style in a last effort to reach his daughter. Individually these are mere contemporary lyrics. Collectively they are more because they offer a fresh, unique and believable expression of emotions. Any musically-centered person i.e. musician, performer would do well visit this concert.

Excerpts

You came with so many bags; Some small; some in your hands; some in mine Some in your brother's; some in the back of the truck; Some in the back of your mind; some in the visions and horrors of your dreams... Session I – I am writing a letter to those who found me aggravating, Those who found me too much to handle And those who lost me before they had a chance to know me at all. Can you see me now trying to walk and crying like a baby. Can you see me now trying to change my diaper and feed myself And crying like a baby....' Session I – ' I am writing this letter to those who found me aggravating. Those who found me too much to handle, and those who lost me before they had a chance to know me at all. Can you see me now trying to walk and crying like a baby. Can you see me now trying to change my diaper and feed myself, and crying like a baby...' 'I want my pie with out slices. I want a large three pounder with all the trimmings: whip cream on my lips, a cherry on my nose, filling in my mouth. I want a pie without slices. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem sharing. I simply want to be the one who cuts the slices. I think I found my pie, his name is ____________________...' Session III – 'I've waited all night for a phone call. R u alive or not; in the city; out of the state. R u in the hands of an enemy or a man filled with hatred? I waited all night for a call. It never came. Does she hate us that much? I know she'll be back in the morning. Nothing will keep her away from our hearts. I just know she'll be here tomorrow. This night will end soon!...' Session IV- 'This hurts the most. I cursed the day we met you. Nothing should hurt this much. I dreamed as I lay awoke, that I could hear you crying all night long. Were you laughing instead? I guess freedom even at the expense of those who care about you can be pleasurable. But it hurts so much tonight! If this is what you wanted, mission accomplished! I can no longer bare this pain. Maybe God will let me leave this place quickly. It hurts so so so so so so so so so so so so much! Nothing has ever hurt this much before. Death must feel better. At least under it you are free from feeling. Injury to the body must be fun. Broken bones are wonderful...' Session V - 'All the tears have not ended but I just don't want to be sad Any longer. Today I shall start rebuilding The armor Around my heart. No one shall again call me uncle, father or daddy. They are boring names. My name is m-i-s-t-e-r...' Session VI – 'I remember the moment that became The best of what I could be. Such a great tyme 2 be in love For the little girl that was me. But moment became minutes And minutes swept me away...' 'Paid a million for a dime's worth of love. I've got tears walking through my heart like hustlers in a casino. They are looking for a stake in something they might win. They are looking for a stake in something they win...'