unseen father

unseen father
i trace your jaw
as my fingers run across
my skin
and i know you
as i stand
in front of the mirror
and you stand with me
i look at your reflection
see you in my eyes
my nose
the shape
of my body
i am made
in your image

you’re here with me
in the flesh
even though it’s fifteen years
since you left me
i wonder
what you look like now –
will i be you
at forty?

is the man i never knew
the man i one day will be?

do you have
a wife
kids
another boy
you call son?
if i walked past you
in the street
would you know me?

or would you simply pass me by
as you did in life?

  • Anthea  Slade

    Anthea Slade

    Oh Jordan this is stunning. So powerful and confronting…filled with honest emotion. I am deeply moved by your words and can feel the pain through your questioning and longing foro the answers. A rare beauty.

  • Vanessa Anderberg

    Vanessa Anderberg

    Touching and heartfelt truths you write. Great work:)

  • Cassey

    Cassey

    Beautiful writing without anger. I’m impressed by the maturity in all you write, and the maturity in your heart.

  • Ushna Sardar

    Ushna Sardar

    touching words Jordan! powerful piece!

  • Ushna Sardar
  • Erika .

    Erika .

    ahh Jordan…too painful to read …xx

  • skinnyman

    skinnyman

    wonderfully honest.

  • Mikyle

    Mikyle

    I’m about to cry. I think if people knew the depth and reality of this poem, they would too…

  • wigs

    wigs

    oh this is painful… heartfelt to the core

  • ArcadiaTempest

    ArcadiaTempest

    Your writing here speaks so much more than the verse that I can read…....you have my gratitude and admiration right now…..for having the courage to shine the light on this and I feel that in the pain I read here I also see someone who is a wonderful person in the making…..I hope you will understand that I also find this so very encouraging as well…...Turning the flip side up and knowing both sides is not something many have….YOU Jordan seem to me to have this quality and it shows in your incredible writing….XXXX

  • rubyjo

    rubyjo

    oh wow, looking in the mirror and seeing the features, wondering about the present and future. and the emotion. this packs it all in there.

  • Plum

    Plum

    Your father would be so proud of you as so many of your Red Bubble family are >:

  • J. Scott Coile

    J. Scott Coile

    Tugging painfully at my soul…

  • Selkie

    Selkie

    This gave me shivers.

  • oneperfectkiss

    oneperfectkiss

    Love you Jordan. xx

  • JonoCarrick

    JonoCarrick

    Jordan this is incredibly moving and yet so beautifully and sensitively expressed.

  • AngelMay

    AngelMay

    It is wonderful that you imagine him in front of you, so close yet so far away.

  • Leda D

    Leda D

    oh wow, so beautifully sad

  • Julialala

    Julialala

    Congrats! You’ve been featured in The Art of Pain

  • linaji

    linaji

    Congrats on your features.. your work is so moving and from your heart and soul!!

  • mitch leeden

    mitch leeden

    that awsoem good job its painful and understanding defiantly soemthing i can relate to

  • PJ Ryan

    PJ Ryan

    so sad .. so beautiful .. hugs x

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