The James Hearst Digital Archive

Home » Poetry » Father

Father

Text of Poem

Nailheads broke off with the sound
of rifle shots, blizzard winds
shook the house, snug as squirrels
we burrowed in our quilts
until morning came.

The upstairs an Arctic cave,
a floor of ice, but Father
braved it and we heard him downstairs
shake the hard-coal stove
until all its isinglass eyes
glowed red, the low roar
of a bucket of coal poured
in its mouth.

When he called, ‘‘You can come now,’’
we scuttled downstairs to dress
in the lovely warmth.

But no one ever said, thank you,
or praised him, or simply,
we love you.

First Line
Nailheads broke off with the sound
Original Pub Location
Original Publication Date
1976
Original Citation
Wascana Review 2 (Spring 1976) 31.
Complete Poems
371
Hearst Collections
Word Count
97
Poetic Form
open
Themes
Twitter Quote
When he called, ‘‘You can come now,’’ / we scuttled downstairs to dress / in the lovely warmth.