Poems of love and encouragement for Dad on Father's Day or any occasion. A nice way to show your love and appreciation to the man or men in your life is to express your feelings through poetry..

Edgar A. Guest is one of my favorite poets. Here are a few inspirational poems for dad from Mr.Guest for you to share and enjoy.

Edgar A. Guest born August 20,1881

Edgar Albert Guest was born in Birmingham, England on August 20, 1881. He and his family moved to the United states in 1891.  He worked at the Detroit Free Press in Detroit, Michigan.  He started there as a copy boy then as a reporter. He had a radio show and a television series.  Guest has written 11,000 poems.  His sentimental and optimistic poetry are so inspiring and enjoyable to read.

Edgar A. Guest died August 5, 1959

 

A man doesn't whine at his losses.

   A man doesn't whimper and fret,

Or rail at the weight of his crosses

   And ask life to rear him a pet.

A man doesn't grudgingly labor

   Or look upon toil as a blight;

A man doesn't sneer at his neighbor

   Or sneak from a cause that is right.

 

A man doesn't sulk when another

   Succeeds where his efforts have failed;

Doesn't keep all his praise for the brother

   Whose glory is publicly hailed;

And pass by the weak and the humble

   As though they were not of his clay;

A man doesn't ceaselessly grumble

   When things are not going his way.

 

A man looks on woman as tender

   And gentle, and stands at her side

At all times to guard and defend her,

   And never to scorn or deride.

A man looks on life as a mission.

   To serve, just so far as he can;

A man holds his noblest ambition

   On earth is to live as a man.

Edgar A. Guest

 

 

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 the daily strife,

Bearing the whips and the 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 that for him I pen:

Only a dad, but the best of men.

Edgar A. Guest

 

This is courage: to remain

Brave and patient under pain;

Cool and calm and firm to stay

In the presence of dismay;

Not to flinch when foes attack,

Even though you're beaten back;

Still to cling to what is right,

When the wrong possesses might.

This is courage: to be true

To the best men see in you;

To remember, tempest-tossed,

Not to whimper, "All is lost!"

But to battle to the end

While you still have strength to spend;

Not to cry that hope is gone

While you've life to carry on.

This is courage: to endure

Hurt and loss you cannot cure;

Patiently and undismayed,

Facing life still unafraid;

Glad to live and glad to take

Bravely for your childern's sake,

Burdens they would have to bear

If you fled and ceased to care.

Edgar A. Guest

 

Courage isn't a brilliant dash,

A daring deed in a moment's flash;

It isn't an instantaneous thing

Born of despair with a sudden spring

It isn't a creature of flickered hope

Or the final tug at a slipping rope;

But it's something deep in the soul of a man

That is working always to serve some plan.

 

Courage isn't the last resort

In the work of life or the game of sport;

It isn't a thing that a man can call

At some future time when he's apt to fall;

If he hasn't it now he will have it not

When the strain is great and the pace is hot.

For who would strive for a distant goal

Must always have courage within his soul.

 

Courage isn't a dazzling light

That flashes and passes away from sight;

It's a slow, unwavering, ingrained trait

With the patience to work and the strength to wait.

It's part of a man when his skies are blue,

It's part of him when he has work to do .

The brave man never is freed oif it.

He has it when there is no need of it.

 

Courage was never designed for show;

It isn't a thing that can come and go;

It's written in victory and defeat

And every trial a man may meet.

It's part of his hours, his days and his years,

Back of his smiles and behind his tears.

Courage is more than a daring deed:

It's the breath of life and a strong man's creed.

Edgar A. Guest

 

When you're up against a frouble,

   Meet it squarely, face to face;

Lift your chin and set your shoulders,

   Plant your feet and take a brace.

When it's vain to try to dodge it,

   Do the best that you can do;

You may fail, but you may conquer,

   See it through!

 

Black may be the clouds about you

   And your future may seem grim,

But don't let your nerve desert you;

   Keep yourself in fighting trim.

If the worst is bound to happen,

   Spite of all that you can do,

Running from it will not save you,

   See it through!

 

Even hope may seem but futile,

   When with troubles you're beset,

But remember you are facing

   Just what other men have met.

You may fail, but fall still fighting;

   Don't give up whate'er you do;

Eyes front, head high to finish.

   See it through!  

Edgar A. Guest