He sees farthest, he
is key, he supplies, he checks
he has the most faith
For Father’s Day, 2021
Adapted from Wlat Whitman’s in “By Blue Ontario’s Shore” final 1867 version.
The passage in question actually us referring to poets but I repurposed the meaning for Dads.
bestows on every object or quality its fit proportion, neither
more nor less,
He is the arbiter of the diverse, he is the key,
He is the equalizer of his age and land,
He supplies what wants supplying, he checks what wants checking,
In peace out of him speaks the spirit of peace, large, rich, thrifty,
building populous towns, encouraging agriculture, arts,
commerce, lighting the study of man, the soul, health,
immortality, government …
He judges not as the judge judges but as the sun falling round a
helpless thing,
As he sees the farthest he has the most faith …
He sees eternity in men and women, he does not see men and
women as dreams or dots.