“Father” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

As we approach Father’s Day this Sunday, it becomes particularly important to make time for our fathers by sending them a card or remembering to give them a call. For those of us who still have our fathers in our lives, we can take the time to remember how incredibly lucky we are. Sadly, Father’s Day is also a time for those who’ve lost their fathers; it can be a difficult day for those still stinging from a loss and a reflective one for those left cherishing the memory of a beloved parent. The poem “Father,” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox takes a reflective tone on the importance of fatherhood and the lasting impression fathers leave long after they’re gone.

“He never made a fortune,” the poem begins, “or a noise / In the world where men are seeking after fame; / 
But he had a healthy brood of girls and boys
/ Who loved the very ground on which he trod.” These opening lines set the stage for the positive direction the poem will take and unfolds the values of the speaker. The subject of the poem, the father, never made very much money in a world that highly values money, and yet, he found fortune in the love of his children. This idea speaks to so many people who might not have much materially but are wealthy in love.

“He never made a fortune or a noise / In the world where men are seeking after fame; / 
But he had a healthy brood of girls and boys
/ Who loved the very ground on which he trod.”

The poem continues, “They thought him just little short of God;
/ Oh you should have heard the way they said his name –
‘Father.’ / There seemed to be a loving little prayer /In their voices, even when they called him ‘Dad.’” These lines are additionally touching in the way they convey the relationship between a father and his children. In the family sphere, young children are known to look up to their dads as heroes. As we get older, our relationships evolve, but we always remember how we looked up to our fathers and continue to in times of need, grief and hopelessness. “Though the man was never heard of anywhere, /
As a hero, yet somehow understood,” the poem continues, “He was doing well his part and making good;
/ And you knew it, by the way his children had
/ Of saying ‘Father.’” These lines seem to sum up every sentiment. For children, great fathers provide the stability, love and protection that only fathers can provide. For fathers, feeling love from their children is the ultimate accomplishment.

“They thought him just little short of God;
/ Oh you should have heard the way they said his name –
‘Father.’ / There seemed to be a loving little prayer / 
In their voices, even when they called him ‘Dad.’”

Even after our fathers are gone, we keep them in our hearts and memory. Ella Wheeler Wilcox explores that message in her poem and does so in an artful, sentimental way. Whether we are fortunate enough to have great fathers in our lives presently or can cherish the memories we’ve stored in our hearts, there’s something for everyone to celebrate this Father’s Day.

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