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 brood of four
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife
Bearing 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 comes 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.
Written for my dad on Father’s Day 2005