#47 He Must Have Life

My dad coughed up some blood in January this year. Four days later we were told that he had lung cancer. There was a 6- centimeter diameter mass growing on an inoperable part of his lung and there was break away cancer in his liver.

My dad did not look or feel sick. My dad died last month, and I held his hand while he drifted away.

He was a warm caring man with a big heart. He used to wipe away my tears with his strong hands. I wrote the following poem while my dad was sick and read it at his funeral. It will reveal to you my selfishness.

This poem originally was published in Sad Poems - Poems about Death

He Must Have Life

by Sharon

I don't wish for death to ease his pain
I am too selfish for that
He must have life

I must be able to hear of his life
He must continue to sing to me
I need to see his beautiful baby blues
sparkle and shine

I don't want to just remember these things

Even in his pain they sparkle and shine

I need him to be here to show me who I am
To show me where I came from
If he left, part of me would leave
I would be someone different

I need to touch and hug him
To let him know how important he is

I don't want to remember these things
To feel the pain that I will feel
when my memories of him start to fade

I want him here with us
I want him here with no pain
I love you, my Dad

All through my troubled and sad childhood,
through my rebellious adolescence and through adulthood,
I always knew that you loved me

I hope you knew that I always loved you too

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Visitor Comments (from the Voting form)

Marybeth

This poem made me remember my father. I don't know of anyone who could not relate to the feelings expressed in this poem. Excellent job
Jo

This poem is amazing and has also summed up how I felt during my Dads illness, we have just lost him to lung cancer too. I felt the same selfishness you describe, so this poem has really touched me, and has made me feel so emotional, it helps to know I'm not alone in the way I was feeling. Thankyou
Maria

As I sat here and read this poem it brought tears to my eyes. its simply beautiful . my dad passed away in december 31, 2005. and its sooo hard. i miss him sooo much and i love him. the pain in my heart it hurts soo much .
jasmin

i love this poem its quite sad. i liked the way u expressed your feelings! i think expressing and telling people your feelings makes them a bit better! writing them dwn is another realy good way of describing and expressing your fellings!i realy enjoyed it!
ashley

i really liked your poem. im sorry for the loss. i just lost my uncle to lung cancer on february 22 and i know how it feels to lose someone
Melisa

That was a beautiful poem it really touched me. My grandpaw died in 2001 from lung cancer and he was like a dad to me. You described all my feelings in your poem. It is beautiful!
Karen

I lost my father to lung cancer in March 2005. This poems says exactly what I was feeling as I watched him fade away. We only had 7 months with him from diagnosis to his death. Great Job in summing up your feelings.
Jessie

My mom died of lung cancer when i was seven. Now im sixteen and missing her more than ever! it will be 9 years this up coming saturday! I know how you feel and your poem touched my heart completly!
Sarah

i love this poem because its great and it relates to my father. when he died last month of my 16th b-day i found out he had a disease called chirosis. its a liver disease because of his drinking and when he died his heart, liver, and heart all stopped working at once. :( well thanx for the help with these poems i have been looking for some good ones to put in my fathers scrapbook and these are the ones! ;)
iris

your poem is so beautiful i know how u must feel about your dad cuz my dad died of cancer 2
stacey

this was a good poem i just lost my dad i really lik eur poem
Yesli

I vote for this poem because it is really nice i haven't lost my father or mother but this poem still has a very strong feeling
Michelle

One of my closest friends recently lost her father to lung cancer, he coughed up blood just like the your father. I have only met her father twice, but knowing that she loved him and that her and her two sisters and mother, are going to be without a father. This poem touched my heart and made me think of all of the things that she will be missing/thinking. My prayers and thoughts are out for all who suffer a loss. I am deeply and truely sorry for your loss.
ilona

ey gud poem n im sry bout ur dad i no he ment da world to but he will always be in yo hart
kate

just to say how much your poem touched me
jamie

This poem is great and it described how I felt after I lost my dad to a heart attack last year.
Trish

Excellent poem. My dad passed away 5 days ago from lung cancer that had spread to his brain and liver. Losing my Dad has left me numb. I love you Dad. Memories will keep you alive in my heart forever.
Sarah

IT MUST BE VERY HARD LOOSING A FATHER SOME ONE AS SPECHIAL AS FATHERS BUT YOU GUYS DID HAVE GOOD TIMES RITE WELL ALWAYS THINK OF THEM AND YOU ARE A GREAT POET AND THAT POEM IS GREAT YOU ARE VERY TALENTED
michelle

I lost my father on May 23,2005. Your poem reflects the very feeling that troubled me the most, pain or freedom from pain. (he died of colon cancer that spread to his liver/lungs). Thank you for sharing.
elizabeth

that touched me i lost my dad in jan of 05 he woke up that morning huged me kissed me on the cheek and told me he loved me and everything is going to be alright. and left with out neightbor. 30 min later we get a call saying my dad had passed away. his heart exploded. that poem means alot but there is one thing that i wish is that i could still be able to hold and tell him everyday that i love him. you did a great job on that my dad would have loved that poem.

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#47 He Must Have Life

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