ONCE UPON A FILIAL DAUGHTER

She sat at the park forever, Waiting at the door for the knock to bring daddy home. She waited till the rhythm changed...

Men say she looks loved,
But who a father is, she never knew.
All she sees are stories mother made;
Communication and attention were alien to her space.

Days she needed to talk about boys who stared,
Girls whose gazes lingered,
Dreams that stayed, and pains that wouldn’t stop.
She kept pushing, growing, and making excuses.
“Daddy will come for me” was her favorite rhyme,
But all was an illusory ride.

She sat at the park forever,
Waiting at the door for the knock to bring daddy home.
She waited till the rhythm changed;
Till all she now understands is:
“Whoever loves you won’t be too busy for you.”
The veil fell, and she became that child who no longer cries papaoti uteng!(Daddy is coming)

Now the park is alien to her;
Waiting is no longer a pleasure.
It’s once upon her filial piety.

4.1 14 votes
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Olusegun Ajayi
3 months ago

“Whoever loves you will not be too busy for you”. Cant agree more

Adeyemo Raphael
3 months ago

Leaving isn’t always loud, it sometimes happen quietly.

This is a beautiful piece.

Semilogo
3 months ago

I love your insight bro

Tunmise
1 month ago
Reply to  Semilogo

Apt

Bassey Abraham
3 months ago

Apt

FANIYAN JEREMIAH SEGUN
3 months ago

This poem is a quiet, aching reflection on abandonment and emotional absence. Through simple but powerful imagery, it captures how unmet parental love shapes a child’s understanding of affection, patience, and self-worth. The transition from hopeful waiting to hardened clarity is especially poignant, making the piece both heartbreaking and deeply relatable.

Adetogun okikiade Oluwatobiloba
3 months ago

You understood the message

Bridget
3 months ago

Beautifully written ✨♥️

I’m touched

Lordpeter
3 months ago

A wonderful write up that really connect deep…I can relate to this 🙂

Adeyeye aderonke deborah
3 months ago

Beautiful write up💜

Jolayemi Peter Oluwaseun
3 months ago

Beautiful piece 😍😍😍😍

Elijah
3 months ago

This is not just a poem but a story of becoming and transformation.

It’s so beautiful

Peace Enokela
3 months ago

We forget that they’ll grow up…
Most times, we realize very late that they’ve outgrown us
Beautifully written, Tobi

Penpal (Oluwatobiloba Adetogun)
3 months ago
Reply to  Peace Enokela

Thanks my love

Olamide
3 months ago

Beautiful piece ❤️

Dada comfort Adeola
3 months ago

Very nice poem
Keep it ip

Ayoola
3 months ago

Love is entails making someone your first priority ………the moment someone who claim to love Nd cherish you start acting nonchalantly…..trust Nd believe….it’s never love in the first place .
Whosoever love you will always show up for you irrespective if their busy schedule.

Zoe
3 months ago

papaoti uteng!

That’s the sound I listened to and read its lyrics all day.

Good work tobi

Tifeh
3 months ago

Beautiful piece.

Muritala jelilat
3 months ago

This is amazing

Adesina blessing
3 months ago

A touching story
About love, expectations and the irony of life👌

Simon Peter
3 months ago

So interesting

Semilogo
3 months ago

🔥🔥🔥🔥

Precious
3 months ago

This is not just a story but a journey of becoming.

Keep it up oremi

Adekunle phebe
3 months ago

This is amazing

I must comment that you are good at what you do
Keep it up my lovely friend

Olaleye Emmanuel Aduragbemi
3 months ago

Interesting…..

Keep it dear friend

Oluwatomiwa
3 months ago

Busyness will never be an hindrance for anyone who love or cares about you….it a very huge lesson.

Well done ma.

Oluwamayowafunmi
3 months ago

Oluwatobilobasimi, “Whoever loves you won’t be too busy for you to check this inspiring write up you have for them.

Big boss
3 months ago

To me love is just a transaction

Ajoke
3 months ago

This is a beautiful piece 🥹

Jerry
3 months ago

Wow, lovely

Ifeoluwa
2 months ago

Beautiful piece 😘

Pdf
1 month ago

This is 🔥🔥🔥

Write more girl

Simipeters
1 month ago

Lovely literal work

Semilore
1 month ago

Wonderful writeup,Bby gurl💖

Mobolaji
1 month ago

You’ve got a beautiful piece there.

Adebola Blessing Mercy
1 month ago

This is a well written creativity 🔥🥳, job well done 💪😘

Emma
1 month ago

This is just the reality of becoming.

More inks to your pen girl

Tunmise
1 month ago

This is great

Tunmise
1 month ago

Great work

Adesakin Fehintola
1 month ago

This is profound.

Anne
1 month ago

This is lit🔥🔥🔥🔥

Bidemi
1 month ago

Wonderful who every love you won’t be too busy for you

Akpofure Princess Eseoghene
1 month ago

Profound! 🥂

Olajide Deborah Oluwasewami
1 month ago

Nice piece

AFM
1 month ago

Wonderful piece 👏👏

Ayomide Iyanuoluwa
1 month ago

Hmmmm this is thoughtful.

Abdulrasheed Balikis Adeola
1 month ago

The piece is so touching 🥹

Godswill Uchenna Ajah
1 month ago

“…days she needed to talk about boys who stared,
girls whose gaze lingered…”

The earnest desire for an outpouring that met silence and emptiness is a vivid telling of the ache the poetis persona felt. It marked the exhaustion of hope in her even before she grew weary and alienated from the park’s silence.