Poetry

Father

By EDGAR ALBERT GUEST
Posted: 2006-05-31 21:31:47
My father knows the proper way
The nation should be run;
He tells us children every day
Just what should now be done.
He knows the way to fix the trusts,
He has a simple plan;
But if the furnace needs repairs,
We have to hire a man.

My father, in a day or two
Could land big thieves in jail;
There's nothing that he cannot do,
He knows no word like "fail.
"Our confidence" he would restore,
If that there is no doubt;
But if there is a chair to mend,
We have to send it out.

All public questions that arise,
He settles on the spot;
He waits not till the tumult dies,
But grabs it while it's hot.
In matters of finance he can
Tell Congress what to do;
But, O, he finds it hard to meet
His bills as they fall due.

It almost makes him sick to read
The things law-makers say;
Why, father's just the man they need,
He never goes astray.
All wars he'd very quickly end,
As fast as I can write it;
But when a neighbor starts a fuss,
Tis mother has to fight it.

In conversation father can
Do many wondrous things;
He's built upon a wiser plan
Than presidents or kings.
He knows the ins and outs of each
And every deep transaction;
We look to him for theories,
But look to ma for action.

2006-05-31 20:38:46

Poem of the Week

Poem of the Week

'The Tiger' by W. Blake


"Tiger! Tiger! burning bright,
In the forrests of the night ..."
Read the full poem

Poetry Search

Find your favorite poem or poet in our database of over 20,000 classics.

    Search for a Poet

    Search over 5.1 million submitted poets.

    Today's Feature

    Green Daily

    Wondering what you can do in your everyday life to help the planet? Check out Green Daily, a new Earth-friendly blog from AOL. It covers all aspects of "green" living, from tips to product reviews, news and more!