By Makenna Cavanagh, 15

I was lost, confused, small in a big world,
Then he found me.
He taught me how to love,
How to be loved.
He taught me how to shape,
Without being shaped.
He taught me how to lead,
As a follower.
Then he set me free.
Just when I needed him most,
He let go.

I was lost, confused, small in a big world.
Then I found me.
In all he taught me,
I survived.
I lived off of loving others,
Shaping my big world,
And leading from behind.
Then I fell,
I fell down, really far down.
I didn’t know what to do.

Then he found me.
He picked me up over and over again,
Until I learned how to stand.
Then I learned he never left,
He always had my back.
He led as a follower.
He taught me how to dream,
Without limitations.
He taught me how to succeed,
Even after failure.
He taught me how to fly,
Without falling.
Then he set me free.
Just when I needed him most,
He let go.

But he was always there,
Holding me up,
Pushing me ahead,
Watching from behind.
He taught me how to be myself,
How to love myself,
How to change my big world.
And he is still here,
Cheering me on.
And now,
I don’t have to turn around to know who’s there,
Because whenever I need him,
All I have to say is,
“Dad.”