Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, UNHAPPY FATHER, by WALT MASON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

UNHAPPY FATHER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It makes poor father's spirit sad, when he
Last Line: "thy victory, oh, death, where is thy sting?"
Subject(s): Family Life; Fathers; Grief; Relatives; Sorrow; Sadness


IT makes Poor Father's spirit sad, when he comes home at night, to hear the
kitchen stove's so bad, the fire won't stay alight. To hear of forty thousand
traps he really ought to buy, although he's so in debt, perhaps, the knowledge
makes him cry. His daughters say it's a disgrace the duds they have to wear;
"ashamed to travel any place, we surely are," they swear. The housewife says the

parlor rugs are worth as many derns; she needs new vases and new jugs, in which

to keep her ferns. New chairs, new dishes and new spoons are all in great
demand; the cook is running out of prunes, and has no lard on hand. What wonder

Father's tired and pale? He can't sit down to read, for he must hear the endless

tale of "things we really need." What wonder if he feels relief, when age comes

on apace, and knows that from this world of grief he pretty soon will chase? He

sighs, when o'er the sunless sea he's ready to take wing, "Oh, grave, where is
thy victory, oh, death, where is thy sting?"





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