At just nineteen, the world was vast and wide,  
With dreams and hopes I could not bide,  
Yet on that fateful day, the sky turned gray,  
When you slipped away, and shadows held sway.  

Two decades and eight years, oh how time flies,  
Yet in the depths of my heart, your absence lies,  
A weight I carry, heavy yet tender,  
In each whispered memory, your love I remember.  

I recall your laughter, a symphony sweet,  
The warmth of your presence, a comforting feat,  
You taught me of strength, how to stand tall,  
Yet when I needed you most, I faced the fall.  

Life’s milestones blurred without you near,  
Each moment a reminder, a painful tear,  
Weddings and birthdays, the joy intertwined,  
With the ache of your absence, forever aligned.  

I've walked through storms, faced shadows profound,  
In the quiet of night, your voice can be found,  
A soft, gentle whisper that calls out my name,  
In dreams you return, though the world feels the same.  

Oh, how I wish you could see me now,  
The paths I have taken, the promises vowed,  
With every triumph, I look to the skies,  
Hoping you’re watching with proud, loving eyes.  

Twenty-eight years have danced on by,  
Yet in every heartbeat, your spirit won’t die,  
The lessons you've taught me, the love that you gave,  
In the echoes of time, it’s your memory I save.  

So here’s to you, my hero, my guide, 
Though the years may drift, and the seasons may bend,  
In my heart, dear Dad, you’ll always transcend.