I Care Poem by Bongiwe Ndlovu

You left me standing at your door step, I called on your name but you didn't answer. I screamed your initials but u were too deaf to hear. I rolled on my own tears, day after day I had hoped u would recognise me and my teary swollen eyes. You watched as I bled and pleaded, begging u to accept what I had to offer.

I spent restless nights, summer hot days in hope that u would finally accept the love I had for u. I offered u my arm of protection, the voice of peace, the silence of love and the words of courage, but u turned me down with no word uttered, no comfort offered and no compassion raised.

I had hope that my garment of care and my steps of hope would finally find a way into your heart and warm your feelings. I held on to pain, rejection, false hope, disappointments, broken promises, hurt and lies but I still dust myself up and I say daddy I care and I am here.