I am not in life a sentimental person, 
but to those close to me, I do say 
'I love you' with poems.  
In honor of Father's Day and my 
own kind, loving father...

You are love and strength and calm

An acoustic guitar, a psalm

A surgeon’s steady hands

that can put together science projects

or a bike

or a gall bladder

or hold a mike

or smooth a flower’s soil and sand.

 

You are an open laugh,

a calm Buddha’s gaze,

Not only of the smooth head

But in the wisdom of your eyes

A brief word said

and the gentlest of ways.