Proud Father-to-Son Poems: Thankful Messages of Love

The Responsibility of Fatherhood

by Edgar A. Guest

BEFORE you came, my little lad,
I used to think that I was good,
Some vicious habits, too, I had,
But wouldn't change them if I could.
I held my head up high and said:
'I'm all that I have need to be,
It matters not what path I tread,'
But that was ere you came to me.

I treated lightly sacred things,
And went my way in search of fun,
Upon myself I kept no strings,
And gave no heed to folly done.
I gave myself up to the fight
For worldly wealth and earthly fame,
And sought advantage, wrong or right,
But that was long before you came.

But now you sit across from me,
Your big brown eyes are opened wide,
And every deed I do you see,
And, O, I dare hot step aside.
I've shaken loose from habits bad,
And what is wrong I've come to dread,
Because I know, my little lad,
That you will follow where I tread.

I want those eyes to glow with pride,
In me I want those eyes to see
The while we wander side by side
The sort of man I'd have you be.
And so I'm striving to be good
With all my might, that you may know
When this great world is understood,
What pleasures are worth while below.

I see life in a different light
From what I did before you came,
Then anything that pleased seemed right;
But you are here to bear my name,
And you are looking up to me
With those big eyes from day to day,
And I'm determined not to be
The means of leading you astray.

A Boy and His Dad

by Edgar Guest

A boy and his dad on a fishing-trip—
There is a glorious fellowship!
Father and son and the open sky,
And the white clouds lazily drifting by,
And the laughing stream as it runs along
With the clicking reel like a martial song,
And the father teaching the youngster gay
How to land a fish in the sportsman's way.

I fancy I hear them talking there
In an open boat, and the speech is fair.
And the boy is learning the ways of men
From the finest man in his youthful ken.
Kings, to youngster, cannot compare
With the gentle father who's with him there.
And the greatest mind of the human race
Not for one minute could take his place.

Which is happier, man or boy?
The soul of the father is steeped in joy,
For he's finding out, to his heart's delight,
That his son is fit for the future fight.
He is learning the glorious depths of him,
And the thoughts he thinks and his every whim,
And he shall discover, when night comes on,
How close he has grown to his little son.

A boy and his dad on a fishing-trip—
Builders of life's companionship!
Oh, I envy them, as I see them there
Under the sky in the open air,
For out of the old, old long-ago
Come the summer days that I used to know,
When I learned life's truths from my father's lips
As I shared the joy of his fishing-trips.

My Boy

by David Bates

I cannot make him like unto myself,
For that, indeed, were selfishness and sin;
I cannot fashion from this soul a pelf,
For its deep wealth is mine to garner in.

I cannot lead him through a certain way,
A form of manhood; for the right is free,
And he must choose what paths to walk each day,
And know his spirit’s fullest liberty.

I cannot guide his thoughts, nor make him wise,
Nor teach his soul to see the eternal truth;
But I can look into his deep, clear eyes,
And love the wondrous promise of his youth.

I cannot lead him always by the hand,
Nor find his world of thought a resting place,
But, as the river widens toward the land,
He shall flow onward with a broader grace.

I cannot force his growth in any wise,
Nor promise him my life and all its good;
But I can love him till my loving eyes
Shall help him on to man’s estate and God.

A Father's Wisdom

My son, as you journey through the years,
Embrace your dreams and conquer your fears.
Remember that life is a path you create,
With choices you make, shaping your fate.

In moments of doubt, stand tall and be brave,
For strength is found in the challenges we face.
Know that I'll be here, a guide and a friend,
To support and encourage you until the end.

Cherish the bonds with those you hold dear,
For love and family will always be near.
With wisdom and kindness, live your life true,
For I am proud to have a son like you.

Journey Unfolding

My son, in the quiet moments
when the world seems still, I think of you
and the life unfolding before you.
There are paths to choose,
lessons to learn,
and dreams waiting to be realized.

As you walk this journey,
know that your strength lies within.
Embrace each moment,
whether filled with joy or challenge,
for each shapes who you become.
Cherish your passions
and pursue them with all your heart.

Remember that love and kindness
are your greatest gifts.
I am here, always believing in you,
proud of the man you are becoming.