"Father's Day"

On a beautiful day in June,
on a bench in a prison yard.
I celebrated "Father's Day",
although my heart was hard.

No visits from my loved ones,
nor cards or letters came.
Only the other somber inmates,
who probably felt the same.

Though no one really said much,
and some just never knew.
The day just seemed to come and go,
the way they always do.

But still I thought of "Father's Day",
and the time I was a dad.
Thought of all the joy it was,
instead of being sad.

I remembered when my kids were born,
and how they've grown and left.
The happiness they brought me then,
and they thought, "dad's the best."

    S A Gibbins        1992