Far From Home

We were at the South Indian Aiyer Restaurant in Brickfield, Kuala Lumpur where I met this man who manages the cashier. I found out from the newspaper cutting pasted on the wall, that Mr. N. Sethu who is Chennai-born, has been working in Malaysia for the past 3 years. He left his country to work in a foreign land in order to provide better for his family back home in Tamil Nadu, India. The article was written in conjunction of Father's Day celebration. Mr. Sethu misses his 2 daughters back home and hope they would understand why he has to stay so far away from them.

In the article, there was also an interesting poem written by Crystal Barnett,
An Ode to The Absentee Dad.

I wrote these words on paper,
because there's a few things I must tell.
God's word speaks to men that pull this caper.
He says they're worst than an infidel
I am the innocent one in this situation,
I did not ask to come into your world.
At least you could acknowledge your creation.
Pay some attention to your boy or girl.
I need to know about you,
and what you gave to me.
Why are my eyes black, brown or blue?
How do you figure in my identity?
Its not about my momma or welfare,
It's about showing me that I count.
It's about showing me that you care,
And not about giving a dollar amount.
It's not about child support payments,
but lord knows it cost money to live.
It is about self-esteem building statements,
and the life-affirming knowledge you could give.
I am unique and I am beautiful,
If you would just come around you could see,
being with me would be joyful not painful,
You're the one stopping a relationship with me.
Happy Father's Day
Wherever you are???