Poem Analysis: "Daddy's Day"

This is one of my favourite poems, a poem titled "Daddy's Day", composed in 2000 by poet Cheryl Costello-Forshey. The poem is about a girl who talks about her father who died in the 911 September 11 incident when terrorists hijacked flight Q33 NY and crashed into the World Trade Centre.

Her hair up in a ponytail, her favorite dress tied with a bow

Today was Daddy’s Day at school, and she couldn’t wait to go

But her mommy tried to tell her, that she probably should stay home

Why the kids might not understand, if she went to school alone

The poem starts off with a description of the girl's appearance. It briefly introduces the situation, where a girl is preparing for Daddy's Day in school, or a day where children bring their fathers to school to introduce them to their classmates. However, it immediately provides a twist by saying that she would be going to school alone.

This invokes many feelings in the readers such as curiosity and suspense. By providing an interesting twist in the start, it makes the reader feel obliged to continue reading the poem. Also, it sets a bittersweet tone for the rest of the poem by contrasting the girl's excitement with the sombre nature of the situation. I like this stanza as it establishes the conflict and twist within the first few lines of the poem.

But she was not afraid; she knew just what to say

What to tell her classmates, on this Daddy’s Day

But still her mother worried, for her to face this day alone

And that was why once again, she tried to keep her daughter home

But the little girl went to school, eager to tell them all

About a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls

This stanza continues the plot, by describing her serene expression and feelings even when confronted by the thought that she might be ridiculed or poked fun at for not having a father. It describes her mother's anxious expressions for her daughter as well.

The stanza continues the bittersweet theme by contrasting the girl's anticipation with her mother's sadness and anxiety. Also, it continues the suspense by describing the father as "a dad she never sees, a dad who never calls". It is still unclear whether the father is dead or constantly away from home. I like this stanza for that reason.

There were daddies along the wall in back, for everyone to meet

Children squirming impatiently, anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called, a student from the class

To introduce their daddy, as seconds slowly passed

At last the teacher called her name, every child turned to stare

Each of them were searching, for a man that wasn’t there

“Where’s her daddy at?” She heard a boy call out

“She probably doesn’t have one.” Another student dared to shout

And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say

“Looks like another deadbeat dad, too busy to waste his day.”

This stanza is slightly longer. It describes the scene in the classroom, setting the anticipation for the girl's show and tell on her father. It also shows how she is ridiculed and written off by the students and parents in the classroom.

It heightens the suspense and anticipation. What is she going to say next? Once again, a reference is made to the father as "a man that wasn't there". The poem is still unclear about the father's exact details.

The words did not offend her, as she smiled at her friends

And looked back at her teacher, who told her to begin

And with hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak

And out from the mouth of a child, came words incredibly unique

“My Daddy couldn’t be here, because he lives so far away

But I know he wishes he could be with me on this day

This stanza sates some of the curiosity the reader experiences reading this poem. There is a tranquil air about the girl, as she "smiled at her friends" despite the snide comments from the audience about her father. Also, she is portrayed as very serene and mature, despite her young age. She is very confident, and at the same time innocent in her words. However, who exactly is the father?

And though you cannot meet him, I wanted you to know

All about my daddy, and how much he loves me so

He loved to tell me stories, he taught me to ride my bike

He surprised me with pink roses, and he taught me to fly a kite

We used to share fudge sundaes, and ice cream in a cone

And though you cannot see him, I’m not standing all alone

‘Cause my daddy’s always with me, even though we are apart

I know because he told me, he’ll forever be here in my heart”

This stanza shows the happy relationship the girl had with her father and how she cherishes those memories of her father. In her innocence and happiness, she believes in her father to be always by her side even when he has left the world. Even though her father is absent, she still loves him because he'll "forever be here in my heart."

With that her little hand reached up, and lay across her chest

Feeling her own heartbeat, beneath her favorite dress

And from somewhere in the crowd of dads, her mother stood in tears

Proudly watching her daughter, who was wise beyond her years

For she stood up for the love, of a man not in her life

Doing what was best for her, doing what was right

And when she dropped her hand back down, staring straight into the crowd

She finished with a voice so soft, but its message clear and loud

This portrays her true love towards her father, even though she only had hazy memories of her father who was "a man not in her life". It shows how the girl is mature enough to love her father unconditionally like a family should.

“I love my daddy very much, he’s my shining star

And if he could he’d be here, but heavens just too far

You see, he was a fireman and died just this past year

When airplanes hit the towers and taught Americans to fear

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it’s like he never went away”

And then she closed her eyes, and saw him there that day

And to her mother’s amazement, she witnessed with surprise

A room full of daddies and children, all starting to close their eyes

Who knows what they saw before them, who knows what they felt inside

Perhaps for merely a second, they saw him at her side

This is the conclusion to the poem. The girl reveals that her father has died just recently, while valiantly trying to douse the fires that erupted at the World Trade Centre, and celebrates her fathers existence even though he has died. To her, he will live on eternally in her heart, and he is watching her from heaven with pride and happiness as she talks about him.

“I know you’re with me daddy.” To the silence she called out

And what happened next made believers, of those once filled with doubt

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed

But there placed on her desktop, was a beautiful fragrant pink rose

And a child was blessed, if only a moment, by the love of her shining bright star

And given the gift of believing, that heaven is never too far

On the whole, this poem is very meaningful as it commemorates fathers all over the world, not just those who bravely gave their lives saving others in the bombing of the World Trade Centre.

Indeed, the role of our fathers in bringing us up is very diminished as most credit always goes to mothers. While I do not dispute that mothers have put in much effort to raise children, I believe that the fathers have contributed their fair share as well. Fathers are usually the sole breadwinner when the mother is too uneducated to work or chooses to take care of her children rather than work. They are the ones who stand in the background supportively, while the mothers raise the children. Fathers are tasked with both familial and career duties.

My father always used to go on business trips. As such, he would try to send me to school more often in the morning, waking up at 6:50 just to drive me to school. We always had conversations in the car, talking about all manner of things. It was his way of communicating and getting to know his son, I suppose.

In lieu of Mother's Day, while we are giving our mothers treats and celebrating their special day with them, let us remember the contribution that our fathers have made in bringing us up.