Curated original poetry
Look for the way affection is actually expressed in the relationship. For many fathers, love appears in actions before it appears in speech.
These pieces are shown in full so you can read the collection before choosing one to save, print, hear aloud, or share.
Find your poem
12 poems
by The Hearth Voice · 12 lines
He taught her how to leave: check the tires, carry water,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
Not all at once, he says, his hand above mine but not taking over.
Read, listen and shareby The Bright Voice · 13 lines
The contract mentioned love. It did not mention glitter inside the washing machine,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
His hands were not a wall. They were a railing: there when the stairs went dark,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
I spent years teaching my son which road to take, how to watch the weather,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 66 lines
You never asked for a day. That's the most father thing about you.
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
He never said be patient. He handed me the line, pointed where the current slowed,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
The boy left muddy shoes beneath every chair. The man lines his boots
Read, listen and shareby The Bright Voice · 11 lines
We groan before he starts. We know the farmer, the ladder,
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 11 lines
My father fixed the loose gate, the lamp with the stubborn switch, the bicycle chain that bit my thumb.
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 29 lines
My father's workshop smelled of pine and something electrical— the ozone ghost of a drill
Read, listen and shareby The Hearth Voice · 12 lines
The bicycle moved because his hand was gone. I shouted when I noticed,
Read, listen and shareReader guide
Look for the way affection is actually expressed in the relationship. For many fathers, love appears in actions before it appears in speech.
A poem can look right on a screen and feel wrong in the mouth. Read your shortlist aloud, notice where the voice catches, and choose the piece that sounds like something you could honestly give or say.
Use the original byline and link when sharing. For a public service, program, classroom, or publication, check the usage note and preserve the poem's line breaks.
Start with the intended use, then narrow by tone and length. A private message can be intimate; a public reading usually needs a clear opening, steady pace, and images listeners can understand immediately.
You may share an EveryPoem link or use the built-in personal print and share-card tools. Republishing the full text elsewhere or using it commercially requires permission.
Yes. Published pieces are original EveryPoem editorial works or approved contributor submissions. House-voice profiles explain how collaborative editorial bylines work.