Only a Dad

I grew up visiting my Grandparents' houses fairly often. I enjoyed those times. I can remember most of the pictures on the walls, the knick-knacks, and the personal touches.

As I've grown older I've taken more notice to what all those things mean. When I moved in with my Grandfather about eight years ago I read this poem on the wall and it left an impression on me.

It turns out that its only the last stanza of a longer poem. Its entitled "Only a Dad":

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.

- Edgar Albert Guest