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Edgar A Guest--ONLY A DAD

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 daily strife,

Bearing the whips and 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 for him I pin;

Only a dad, but the BEST of men.