A Wedding Toast
The toast my father never got to give.
My wedding scheduled around his illness,
He was missed because of his death.
41 days before I stood at the altar,
You walked me down once before.
Now you didn’t have the chance
Opportunities no longer in existence.
The choice decided by death,
Was blindingly unfair.
Finite. The end of a life.
The end of the last year you saw.
New Years Eve, another wedding
Violently halted in my tracks
My lungs would not inflate.
“What A Wonderful World” playing
The song we danced to.
I used to play on the piano.
Locked in a bathroom stall
Each tear a prayer for one more
Dance.
A prayer for a toast.
A prayer for another chance to hear
Your voice, feel your embrace.
You would never give a toast,
Have a dance,
Call me sweetie,
Hug me tight, again.
Here’s to you, Dad.
