I wonder does he know...

Today he told me I was beautiful
I wonder if he knew
that my father never told me
Never referred to me as daddy's little girl
Never having the pleasure of Daddy-Daughter day
Never having the dream of  walking down the aisle with him at my side
Never uttering the words
Daddy
Papa
Dad
Father
Padre

Never knowing the love of the man that

help create me

No, he probably doesn't
because my daddy issues are not written
on my sleeve
they are in the dark spaces
I have  often visited over the years
Analyzing every failed fling
wondering if his lack of presence was the reason
I can't call it
And I refuse to place all the blame upon the weak shoulders of a man
who couldn't even look me in the eye
the last time he saw me
eleven years ago
Instead I will take the compliment
and place it next to those dark spaces.
cushioning my disappointment
reminding me that
although fatherless children love differently,
we love nonetheless.