When My Dad Goes
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who ever asked to brush my hair.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who ever asked to brush my hair.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who let me sleep in his armpit.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who woke me up before the sun.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who made a maple bar taste like love.
who made a maple bar taste like love.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
I ever hugged on a motorcycle.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who sacrificed, so I could dance.
who sacrificed, so I could dance.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who really wanted to put me first.
who really wanted to put me first.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
to look at me with overwhelming love.
to look at me with overwhelming love.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
to tip me 100 percent on his lunch bill.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
to sing Christmas Carols on my answering machine.
to sing Christmas Carols on my answering machine.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who told me I could do or be anything.
who told me I could do or be anything.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
I tell I love, but rarely see.
I tell I love, but rarely see.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love,
with the courage to live differently.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love,
despite our differing points of view.
despite our differing points of view.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who loves me for my strength.
who loves me for my strength.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I love,
who told me he was proud of me.
who told me he was proud of me.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew,
who cried at the National Anthem.
When my Dad goes, he'll the only man I knew,
who lived for the fight.
who lived for the fight.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew
who didn't give a shit, what others thought.
who didn't give a shit, what others thought.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew,
who made baby-back ribs taste like love.
who made baby-back ribs taste like love.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who "bad-danced" better than me.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man
who showed me God in nature.
who showed me God in nature.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I knew,
who ever offered to protect me.
who ever offered to protect me.
When my Dad goes, he'll be the only man I've loved my whole life.
Jess Coffman
Jess Coffman
Hello Friends!
"When My Dad Goes," is a poem that is inspired by the expertly crafted and tremendously evocative film, "Everybody's Fine." Robert De Niro steals your heart as he plays the calm and calculated widower "Frank Goode" who sets out on a journey across the country to visit with his children. I pretty much cried for the entire 2 hours that it took me to watch and recover from the movie. I completely identified with this story, in the sense that I have a strong, hard-working, proud, sometimes lonely, father trying to connect with his children who are spread out across the country. "Frank Goode" has many set-backs emotionally and physically in the film, but eventually he acquires a rather sad and honest connection with his children.
I called my Dad at one point when I took an emotional break from the film, to tell him how much I loved him. After our brief and lovely conversation, where my Dad reassured me that he missed me and he was proud of me, I began to write this poem. I don't believe that there are any perfect children or any perfect parents, and though my childhood was complicated, I am so blessed to have the parents that I do. This poem is a celebration of a few wonderful details explaining why I love and appreciate my Dad so much. I hope it inspires you to call a relative today, and tell them how important they are to you.
Have a blessed day!
Jess
P.S. Check out this youtube video of my Dad "bad-dancing" called "Zumba Dad Killin It!"
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