Father

Poem for the Day

Father
by Edgar Albert Guest

Used to wonder just why father 
Never had much time for play, 
Used to wonder why he'd rather 
Work each minute of the day. 
Used to wonder why he never 
Loafed along the road an' shirked; 
Can't recall a time whenever 
Father played while others worked. 

Father didn't dress in fashion, 
Sort of hated clothing new; 
Style with him was not a passion; 
He had other things in view. 
Boys are blind to much that's going 
On about 'em day by day, 
And I had no way of knowing 
What became of father's pay. 

All I knew was when I needed 
Shoes I got 'em on the spot; 
Everything for which I pleaded, 
Somehow, father always got. 
Wondered, season after season, 
Why he never took a rest, 
And that I might be the reason 
Then I never even guessed. 

Father set a store on knowledge; 
If he'd lived to have his way 
He'd have sent me off to college 
And the bills been glad to pay. 
That, I know, was his ambition: 
Now and then he used to say 
He'd have done his earthly mission 
On my graduation day. 

Saw his cheeks were getting paler, 
Didn't understand just why; 
Saw his body growing frailer, 
Then at last I saw him die. 
Rest had come! His tasks were ended, 
Calm was written on his brow; 
Father's life was big and splendid, 
And I understand it now.