I Walked

I walked,
Papa.
I walked till
My feet begged me
To stop.
I walked till
Exhaustion became
An old comrade
Who walked in step
To your daughter's
Every stride.

Why didn't you stop,
My child?
Why did you
Keep this unmerciful stride?
Why did you come to me
With feet bloody
And exhaustion upon your back,
He, himself, exhausted
And needing you to carry
Him on.

I walked,
Papa,
Because...
Because no one told me
To stop,
Papa.