i miss you
i miss your hands
i miss the way they felt in mine
harsh creases in my soft paintbrushes
with scars and worked hands
tan and strong
holding your daughter's

i miss you
i miss the way you sang to me
i miss the way your voice soothed me
your voice carrying me away from the nightmares
with hurt you sang
you didn't want me to have nightmares
so you sang

i miss you
i miss your heart beat
i miss the way you let me sleep on your left
next to your heart
a beat so strong it drowned out mine
mine beats differently because of you
mine beats to be held
to take it all good and bad
to carry hurt and love

i can not sing but i can listen now
listen to the hurt
listen as they sing
listen as the world sings that beautiful song of pain

i can never have strong hands like yours
they will never throw the punches you could
they will be my paintbrushes
held by the memory of a father who loved me once