Happy Father’s Day 2026

© by 𝕾𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖘𝖍 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖓𝖉𝖗𝖆

This one June day, year after year, 

Gather up courage, just grin, “'Tis here!”
The cackling gifs arrive as do the usual gifts 

Your aches and pains may just need these lifts.
The yearly tradition of every nest.
You get the title "The Bestest of the Best."

A shiny box came in yesterday's mail,
With Tasting Notes that said Very Superior Old Pale.
"Mellow! Honeyed! Toasted! Exquisite!"
"Nice!" Save for the special day, the next visit.

Oh, no! Another necktie, bold, daring and brave,
Never for the landfill, goes straight to man-cave.
With the other twenty in stripes, dots & plaid,
A textile display "Things (you shouldn't buy) for Dad".

Next up a T-shirt proclaiming "WORLD'S BEST DAD."
A statement quite bold (but true!) No, not a fad.
We'll wear it proudly this Sunday afternoon,
Then it will join those neckties right after June.

The Greetings arrive in cursive and with flair,
"To the World's Greatest Father, Beyond All Compare."
Inside, many heartfelt sentences come alive 
The countless bedtime stories, in four lines or five.

There may be a mug, there may be some socks,
Perhaps a grooming kit packed neatly in a box.

A wallet, a keychain, a personalized pen,
All gifts NEVER to be re-gifted again.

Meanwhile Dad dreams have a radical twist.
A quiet afternoon siesta, maybe calls and visits?
Yesterdays linger, then fade, in foggy brain-mist.
Dads, kids laughing hard, we sucked at The Twist.

Not whisky reviews, not another tie, no tees,

More warm hugs expected, yes, many more, please.
Chicken scrawls, hand drawn cards, tear-smudged little tykes,

Skinned knees, brave smiles, we were learning to bike. 

So here's to us fathers who just graciously grin,
Accepting all gifts with a practiced chin.
For we know that the true presents come year after year,
Watching the baby birds soar, thinking... "Wish Dad was here."

And somewhere deep down, though we'll never confess,
We love every terrible wonderful gift nonetheless.
Except another tie and those darn tube socks.
Those can absolutely go pound rocks.