Only a Dad
 |
| Picture Credit : Photo by Afeez Ajibola Yusuf |
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.
Line by Line Summary:
Line-1 "Only a dad, with a tired face,"
In this line, the poet introduces us to the subject of the poem, a father. The father is described as "only a dad" with a tired expression on his face, suggesting that he's a common, ordinary man who has been working hard.
Line-2 "Coming home from the daily race,"
The father is returning home from his daily work or routine, which is described metaphorically as a "race." This implies that he faces everyday challenges and responsibilities.
Line-3 "Bringing little of gold or fame,"
The father doesn't come home with wealth or fame. He may not have achieved great financial success or widespread recognition in his endeavours.
Line- 4"To show how well he has played the game,"
Despite not having material success, he takes pride in his efforts, indicating that he has played the "game" of life to the best of his ability.
Line- 5"But glad in his heart that his own rejoice"
The father finds joy in the happiness of his family members (his "own"). Their happiness is what matters most to him.
Line- 6"To see him come, and to hear his voice."
The family eagerly anticipates and welcomes his return, cherishing the sound of his voice.
Line- 7"Only a dad, with a brood of four,"
The father has four children. "Brood" here refers to his offspring.
Line- 8"One of ten million men or more."
This line emphasizes that he is just one of countless fathers in the world, all going through similar struggles and responsibilities.
Line- 9"Plodding along in the daily strife,"
The father is described as "plodding along," indicating steady, persistent effort in the face of daily challenges or "strife."
Line- 10"Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,"
He endures life's hardships, symbolized as "whips" and "scorns," without complaint.
Line- 11"With never a whimper of pain or hate,"
Despite the difficulties he faces, he doesn't express any complaints or harbor feelings of resentment or hatred.
Line- 12"For the sake of those who at home await."
He endures these challenges for the well-being and happiness of his family members who are waiting for him at home.
Line- 13"Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,"
The father is not wealthy or arrogant; he's a humble and ordinary man.
Line- 14"Merely one of the surging crowd"
He's just one among the many people in the world, blending into the crowd of everyday individuals.
Line- 15"Toiling, striving from day to day,"
He works diligently and makes an effort each day to provide for his family and meet their needs.
Line- 16"Facing whatever may come his way,"
He bravely confronts whatever challenges and obstacles life presents to him.
Line- 17"Silent, whenever the harsh condemn,"
Even when faced with harsh criticism or judgment from others, he remains silent and composed.
Line- 18"And bearing it all for the love of them."
He endures all of this for the love he has for his family, which is his primary motivation.
Line- 19"Only a dad, but he gives his all"
Again, he's described as "only a dad," but he gives his utmost effort and dedication.
Line- 20"To smooth the way for his children small,"
He works tirelessly to make life easier and better for his young children.
Line- 21"Doing, with courage stern and grim,"
He carries out his responsibilities with determination and seriousness.
Line- 22"The deeds that his father did for him."
He follows in the footsteps of his own father, continuing the tradition of hard work and sacrifice for the benefit of the next generation.
Line- 23"This is the line that for him I pen,"
The poet is expressing his admiration and gratitude for such fathers with this poem.
Line- 24"Only a dad, but the best of men."
The poem concludes by emphasizing that although he may be "only a dad," he is, in fact, one of the finest men due to his selfless love and dedication to his family.
About the author:
Edgar Albert Guest: The People's Poet
Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959) was an American poet known for his heartwarming and accessible poetry. Born in Birmingham, England, Guest immigrated to the United States with his family as a young boy and settled in Detroit, Michigan. He did not have a formal education beyond the eighth grade but possessed a natural gift for writing that would make him a beloved poet of the people.
Guest began his career as a newspaper copyboy and later worked for the Detroit Free Press for over 60 years. During his time at the newspaper, he wrote a daily column called "Breakfast Table Chat," where he shared his poetry with readers. His simple, optimistic, and often sentimental verses resonated with a wide audience, making him one of the most published poets in history.
Some of his most well-known poems include "It Couldn't Be Done," "See It Through," and "Only a Dad," the latter of which we discussed earlier. These poems often focused on themes of determination, perseverance, family, and the everyday struggles and triumphs of ordinary people.
Edgar Guest's poetry was often referred to as "people's poetry" because it connected with readers from all walks of life. His work celebrated the values of hard work, family, and the indomitable human spirit, making him a favourite among both young and adult readers.
Despite his lack of formal education, Guest's dedication to his craft and ability to capture the essence of human experience in his poetry earned him recognition and numerous honours, including being named Michigan's poet laureate. His legacy continues to live on through his timeless and relatable poems, inspiring and uplifting readers of all ages.
Let me know your doubts