For Father’s Day one year, I collected some poetry and poetic quotes representing my Dad.
For the Shakespeare quotes, they reflect his passion for an enriched vocabulary, and proper grammar; not only correct, but also conveying the appropriate social mien.
Maintaining a communication style which becomes more formal when interacting with authority figures is something called “code switching” in education, and it’s a skill correlated with upward social mobility.
Shakespeare-
If by chance I talk a little wild, forgive me; I had it from my father. Henry viii
Why, ’tis a happy thing, to be the father unto many sons.
Henry VI, part III
It is a wise father that knows his own child.
The Merchant of Venice
Zounds! I was never so bethumped with words
since I first called my brother’s father dad.
King John
My father loves Shel Silverstein and the remaining poems are his. They reminded me of his work with patients as a psychologist. People know what do in well defined situations, but what do you do when the bottom drops out, and everything changes?
“When the light turns green, you go. When the light turns red, you stop. But what do you do when the light turns blue with orange and lavender spots?” – A Light in the Attic
These poems reminded me of you his interest in new experiences, in going beyond expectations and the comfort zone to explore new vistas.
ALICE in Wonderland
She drank from a bottle called DRINK ME
And she grew so tall,
She ate from a plate called TASTE ME
And down she shrank so small.
And so she changed, while other folks
Never tried nothin’ at all.” – Where the Sidewalk Ends
“Listen to the mustn’ts, child,
Listen to the don’ts.
Listen to the shouldn’ts.
The impossibles, the won’ts.
Listen to the never haves.
Then listen close to me—
Anything can happen, child,
Anything can be.” – Where the Sidewalk Ends
“All The Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
Layin’ In The Sun,
Talkin’ ‘Bout The Things
They Woulda-Coulda-Shoulda Done…
But All Those Woulda-Coulda-Shouldas
All Ran Away And Hid
From One Little Did.” – Falling Up
