A Fathers Day Poem: He Was There by Hannah Rodrigues

A father's happy place.

He was there...
    Looking at me, only the way he could

He was there...
    Feeding me my first ice cream

He was there...
    Holding my hand

He was there...
    Showing me how to check the direction of the wind
        by licking my finger and holding it as high as I could

He was there...
    Driving me to Brownies, soccer and
        picking me up late at night from parties

He was there...
    At the ski hill

He was there...
    Fixing the car

He was there...
    Listening and dozing on the couch

He was there...
    At the other end of the phone

He was there...
    Mentoring me in my career

He was there...
    When I needed advice

He was there...
    When my babies were born

He was there...
    At 6:00 a.m. every Wednesday

He was there...
    When I needed a hug

He was there...
    Humming ‘his’ tune

He is here now...
    In my heart


— Hannah Rodrigues


Hannah Rodrigues wrote and recited He Was There for her father upon his passing on April 22, 2018. We publish it here — with the author's consent — on Fathers Day for those who are missing their father today.