Poetry: “Father’s Love”

Editor’s note: This art is published in memory of Teen Voices artist Nkonyezi Nanyamka, who recently passed away at the age of 19.

Poem by Daniella Bernabeu, 17
Virginia

Photo  by Nkonyezi Nanyamka, 19
Texas

My father’s hands turned into two birds,

Linked by the thumbs,

When the lights went off,

And my little night lamp turned on.

They flew all the way through my white plain wall.

He was sitting at the wood chair placed beside my night table.

I loved the way he would wait for hours,

Until I fell asleep.

He knew I was afraid.

He knew I hated being alone.

He knew that waiting until I fell asleep,

For me, He was like an angel,

Protecting me from nightmares;

Even better, a guardian waiting on the huge monster to come.

I watched peacefully,

While the birds were still flying over my head,

On my wall,

Now on my ceiling.

My eyes started closing,

My view was blurry,

I rubbed my eyes,

I felt tired,

My eyes started numbing slowly

Until they where finally closed,

And I was gone.