DLTK's Crafts for Kids
Father's Day Classic Poems
These aren't really children's poems but if dad likes poetry they might be something you want to include in your Father's Day gift.
"Only a Dad"
by Edgar Guest
Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game,
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.
Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more.
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.
Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.
Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen,
Only a dad, but the best of men.
"Those Winter Sundays"
by Robert Hayden
Sundays too my father got up early
and put his clothes on in the blueback cold,
then with cracked hands that ached
from labor in the weekday weather made
banked fires blaze. No one ever thanked him.
I'd wake and hear the cold splintering, breaking.
When the rooms were warm, he'd call,
and slowly I would rise and dress,
fearing the chronic angers of that house,
Speaking indifferently to him,
who had driven out the cold
and polished my good shoes as well.
What did I know, what did I know
of love's austere and lonely offices?
"Father"
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Father, we thank thee for the night,
And for the pleasant morning light;
For rest and food and loving care,
And all that makes the world so fair.
Help us to do the things we should,
To be to others kind and good;
In all we do, in work or play,
To grow more loving every day.
"A Boy Needs a Father"
by Edgar Guest
A boy needs a father for advice and for instruction,
A sort of helper and an all-round guide,
One whom he knows is in his corner always,
Ready to share in everything beside.
A boy needs a father for a great many reasons,
And when he doesn't have him he is lost;
For want of someone to direct his footsteps
He pays too dear a price for being bossed.
He stumbles through the years and makes mistakes in judgment,
And profits not at all by what he's done;
He does not know the joys that come from wisdom's teachings,
And misses happiness in a race he's run.
A boy needs a father whom he never can remember,
One who will guide and counsel and be right,
One who will stand beside him in the years when he's a youngster,
And be his comrade and his greatest light.
"My Father's Song"
by Simon J. Ortiz
My father's song was strong and great,
Filled with the voices of mountains and waters.
It was a song of dignity, respect, and honor.
It was a song of love and strength.
When I was a boy, he sang it to me,
And I listened with wonder and awe.
It filled my heart with joy and pride,
And I knew that I was his son.
Now he is gone, but his song lives on,
In the wind that whispers through the trees,
In the rivers that flow to the sea,
In the mountains that stand tall and free.
I sing his song now, with my own voice,
To honor his memory and carry on his legacy.
I sing of love and strength, of dignity and respect,
And I pass it on to the next generation.
"The Depth of a Father's Love"
by Unknown
The depth of a father's love shows in his daughter's eyes,
What's known is what's shown from sunset to sunrise.
A foundation built on more than just what is spoken,
It's commitments kept and promises that go unbroken.
An emotion so immense that nothing in this world can erase,
The permanent impression of love is tattooed upon her face.
A relation so peculiar that only the two can understand,
Yet so immaculate it's obvious that, by God, it was planned.
"In the Shadow of Man"
by Richard D. Wetenhall:
In the shadow of man, I stand tall,
Guided by the love of my father above all.
His presence, a beacon in life's unknown,
A steady hand that I can always hold.
In his shadow, I find strength and grace,
A reflection of his character, his noble face.
His words, like echoes, resonate within,
Inspiring me to overcome, to rise and win.
Through his guidance, I learn to persevere,
To face challenges without a hint of fear.
In his shadow, I am protected and secure,
For his love and support are steadfast and pure.
On this Father's Day, I honor his name,
With gratitude and love that will never wane.
In the shadow of man, I proudly stand,
Forever grateful for his guiding hand.
"To My Father"
by Georgia Harkness
To my father, strong and true,
Whose love and care always grew,
You've been my rock, my guiding light,
Through every challenge, every fight.
You taught me strength, you taught me grace,
To navigate life's every maze.
You showed me what it means to be kind,
To value others, to always be aligned.
In your arms, I found comfort and peace,
A place where all my worries would cease.
Your wisdom and patience, a wellspring of trust,
You've been my anchor, my father, my gust.
So, on this day, I honor you,
For all the love and guidance you imbue.
Thank you, dear father, for being there,
For showing me a love beyond compare.