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My greatest joy has been
watching the two of you grow
from little boys to men
I admire and respect.
I’d like to take credit
for the men you've become,
but there's someone who
deserves it more.
Your dad—
worked twelve-hour days
six days a week
at a job he didn’t love,
but it paid the bills.
Every night he'd come home tired and dirty,
ask us about our day,
then take a quick shower
while I started dinner.
Within minutes
I'd see him playing
with his two small sons
racing Match-box cars
across the living room floor.
Dinner was always laced with laughter.
Your dad would get it going
telling some funny story about work or
poking gentle fun at one of us.
We laughed more than we chewed.
Sundays, he was behind the wheel
taking us on long drives—
back country roads to get homemade ice cream,
through the mountains to see autumn trees, or just
cruising through neighborhoods to see Christmas lights.
Your dad—
coached your Little League games,
helped with scout meetings,
and cheered you on
at karate competitions.
When you graduated from high school,
college, grad school—
He was there.
He may not have said it, but
he was so proud of you.
Your dad—
taught you to drive,
helped you get your first car,
made your friends feel welcome,
and danced at your wedding.
He couldn’t buy you
everything he wanted to
so he gave you
everything he had.
It's no wonder
you turned out so well, and
I should have told you long ago
how thankful I am
he's your dad.
© by Linda Kulp.
Used with the author’s permission.
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Linda Kulp has been writing and publishing poetry for many years, mostly for anthologies, children’s magazines, and teaching resources. A mother of grown sons , Linda lives in Pennsylvania.
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laurasalas:
This is beautiful, Linda! My favorite stanza:
He couldn’t buy you
everything he wanted to
so he gave you
everything he had.
Posted 06/19/2013 07:52 AM
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Wilda Morris:
A great dad for a child to grow up with - and to!
Posted 06/10/2013 04:44 PM
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rtaylor947@aol.com:
Great tribute to a particular Dad, and to a lot of dads in general.
Posted 06/10/2013 11:54 AM
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Joyce:
very moving! A wonderful tribute! Joyce
Posted 06/10/2013 10:34 AM
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Glen Sorestad:
Wonderful! To all the Dads who gave everything they had.
Posted 06/10/2013 09:45 AM
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dotief@comcast.net:
Very nice!
Posted 06/10/2013 07:51 AM
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TheSilverOne:
Wow...Not all of us had been so lucky, but great knowing there's dads like that out there! ...and that they're appreciated.
Posted 06/10/2013 07:18 AM
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MaryLeeHahn:
I love all the concrete details throughout the poem. The last stanza holds a perfect turn.
Posted 06/10/2013 04:23 AM
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Katrina:
Yes. This is what it is like. Thank you.
Posted 06/10/2013 04:21 AM
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