After My Father Gave Me His Blessing

A Father’s Day poem about a dying father trying to communicate his feelings to his son: After my father gave me his blessing For the first time, saying, "God bless you" As I left him to the darkness, He held me there and kissed my hand. For the first time saying, "God bless you" In all the years that I had loved him, He held me there and kissed my hand, And the child shivered with delight. In all the years that I had loved him, We understood no need to speak. The child shivered with delight; The man in silence turned away. We understood no need to speak As I left him to the darkness. The man in silence turned away