FATHERS’ DAY

Of special days I'm well aware,

There's Christmas and New Year;

President's birthdays celebrate

With happiness or tear:

There's Mother's Day and July 4

And the 30th Day of May;

The Armistice and Thanksgiving--

But what is "Fathers' Day?"

Dads oftentimes are in a daze,

And need a mental crutch;

They work all day, about fagged out,

Then lawns to mow and such.

A hundred chores unfinished still,

Though down he fain would lay;

Twelve hours not too much for Dad;

That must be "Fathers' Day."

The windows wash, put up the screens,

The garden must be hoed;

The weeds to pull, the basement clean,

The old man's back is bowed.

Shine up the bathroom, "vac" the rugs,

The old buck toils away;

He hears much talk of manly sports--

No part of "Fathers' Day."

He shines the car real spick-and-span

From turret-top to spokes;

Labor of love, for well he serves,

As chauffeur for his folks.

For gas and oil, bills for repairs.

It's Dad who has to pay;

Garage he cleans with longings vague

For fairer "Fathers' Day."

He hits the hay at ten o'clock

You'd think for peaceful sleep;

But radios and voices loud--

The old boy counting sheep

Alarm sounds off at six o'clock,

He hears it with dismay;

His stiffened joints creak out of bed--

A brand new "Father' Day."

I s'pose when Gabriel blows is born

And most folks' toil is through;

That Dad will say, "Gabe, wait a bit,

I've got more work to do."

And late he knocks at Heaven's Gate,

But sadly turns away;

With the Devil's help he'll celebrate

A red hot "Fathers' Day".

                                by:  Howard B. Austin

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