25 Father's Day Poems That'll Make You & Your Dad Tear Up

Father’s Day is coming up on June 16 this year, but you still have plenty of time to run out and grab your dad a gift. Sure, you could get him the usual fare like a tie, golf gear, or a beer brewing kit, but what if you also made him a card that included a tear-jerking Father’s Day poem?

It’s admittedly tough to figure out what to write in a Father’s Day card, especially if you don’t spill your feelings to each other regularly. (Dads are the kings of sending one-word texts, after all.) On the flip side, you might not even know where to start when expressing your thanks for the decades of love, life lessons — and ridiculous dad jokes.

A Father’s Day poem could be a meaningful way to capture your love and gratitude, but since not everyone’s gifted with Shakespearean talent, it’s more than OK to borrow a haiku or two from the internet.

If you can’t find the right words, try using one of these sentimental poems for dads in your card. From the nostalgic to the lighthearted, these cute Father’s Day poems will say it all for you.

1. “Dad” — Karen K. Boyer

“He never looks for praises / He's never one to boast / He just goes on quietly working / For those he loves the most / His dreams are seldom spoken / His wants are very few / And most of the time his worries / Will go unspoken too / He's there, a firm foundation / Through all our storms of life / A sturdy hand to hold to, in times of stress and strife / A true friend we can turn to, when times are good or bad / One of our greatest blessings / The man that we call Dad.”

2. “In Her Eyes”— Michelle W. Emerson

"The depth of a father's love shows in his daughter's eyes / What's known is what's shown from sunset to sunrise / A foundation built on more than just what is spoken / It's commitments kept and promises that go unbroken / An emotion so immense that nothing in this world can erase / The permanent impression of love is tattooed upon her face / A relation so peculiar that only the two can understand / Yet so immaculate it's obvious that, by God, it was planned."

3. “The Luckiest Dad” — Corey Mitcherson

“You're the luckiest dad, that's what they say ; With me as your child, each and every day / I may be a handful, a little wild and crazy / But you love me just the same, even when I'm lazy / So here's to you, dad, on this special day / The luckiest dad in every possible way!”

4. “My Dad Is My Rock” — Winnie Smith-Garland

“My dad has always been my rock, Supporting me as I chased my dreams around the clock/ Encouraging me to go on the craziest adventures / And taking me seriously, no matter the venture / He gave me advice and encouragement / Even when I was feeling lost and disheartened / His words of wisdom, always on point / Helped me navigate life's twists and turns with every joint.”

5. “Star Dad” — Karl Fuchs

"I love you, Dad, and want you to know / I feel your love wherever I go / Whenever I've problems, you're there to assist / The ways you have helped me would make quite a list / Your wisdom and knowledge have shown me the way / And I'm thankful for you as I live day by day / I don't tell you enough how important you are / In my universe you're a bright shining star."

6. “I Love You Dad” — 365 Greetings

“Your arms are my shelter / Assuring me that it will be better / Your hand is my comfort / Lifting me up when I fall short / Your voice makes me strong / Teaching me what’s right and wrong / Your smile says it all / Father, I love you more than all.”

7. “Special Hero” — Christina M. Kerschen

"When I was a baby, you would hold me in your arms / I felt the love and tenderness, keeping me safe from harm / I would look up into your eyes, and all the love I would see / How did I get so lucky, you were the dad chosen for me / There is something special, about a father's love / Seems it was sent to me, from someplace up above / Our love is everlasting, I just wanted you to know / That you're my special hero, and I wanted to tell you so."

8. “My Dad, My Teacher” — Reese Carlington

“I'm lucky to have such an awesome dad / And I'm grateful for all the fun we've had / He's the best friend I could ever wish for / And I'll always love him more and more.”

9. “A Father Means” — Unknown

"A Father means so many things / An understanding heart / A source of strength and of support, right from the very start / A constant readiness to help, n a kind and thoughtful way / With encouragement and forgiveness, no matter what comes your way / A special generosity and always affection, too / A Father means so many things, when he's a man like you."

10. “Only A Dad” — Edgar Guest

“Only a dad, with a tired face / Coming home from the daily race / Bringing little of gold or fame / To show how well he has played the game / But glad in his heart that his own rejoice / To see him come, and to hear his voice.”

11. “My Father, My Father...” — Dakota Ellerton

“My father / My father / Made me see / How beautiful this world can really be.”

12. “Dad” — Susan Smith

“To me dad, you’re everything / I can not begin to say / You’ve loved, cared and looked out for me / You’ve made me who I am today / Dad, you’ve always been understanding, and showered me with concern / You’re my knight in shining armor / You’re my dad and best friend.”

13. “Father” — Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“There seemed to be a loving little prayer / In their voices, even when they called him ‘Dad’ / Though the man was never heard of anywhere / As a hero, yet somehow understood / He was doing well his part and making good / And you knew it, by the way his children had / Of saying ‘Father.’”

14. “As We Look Back” — Clare Jones

“As we look back over time / We find ourselves wondering / Did we remember to thank you enough / For all you have done for us? / For all the times you were by our sides / To help and support us / To celebrate our successes / To understand our problems / And accept our defeats? / Or for teaching us by your example / The value of hard work, good judgment / Courage and integrity?”

15. “Daughter’s Hero’’ — Unknown

“A dad is his daughter’s first hero / The man she admires from the start / And whether she’s small or completely grown up / He has a warm place in her heart.”

16. “Fathers Can Be Solitary Mountains” — Unknown

“Fathers can be solitary mountains / All their love rock-like, steep and strong / Though warm and caring, somehow they belong / Halfway home to mothers' bubbling fountains / Each of us needs love that knows no quarter / Reminding us of bonds that cross a border / Strengthening our sense of right and wrong.”

17. “Fathers Are Wonderful People” — Helen Steiner Rice

“Fathers are wonderful people / So little understood / And we do not sing their praises / as often as we should.”

18. “My Darling Dad” — Allison Carol

“His voice so soft / His eyes so bright / His words of wisdom / in my ear at night / He keeps me safe / In loving arms / As if he knows / the world means harm / I love him now / As I always have / He loves me too / My darling Dad.”

19. “Grateful To Have You As My Dad” — Holly Giffers

“I hope you know I'm grateful / And my heart is truly glad / That today and every single day / I have you as my dad.”

20. “Happy Father’s Day” — Kip Alderidge

“Dad, you mean the world to me / I hope that's something you can see / Through every up and every down / You've been there to help me rebound / I thank you for your constant love / And guidance from up above / For all the times you held my hand / I'm grateful for you, my amazing dad.”

21. “An Ode To Dads” — Melodia Ortez

“Dads are the rock that holds us strong / A compass to guide us all along / The foundation of our lives they create / A stronghold of love that's never late / With strength and support, they stand by our side / A beacon of hope that never hides / Dads are the world we live in each day / And their love is what lights the way.”

22. “A Father Means” — Anonymous

"A Father means so many things / An understanding heart / A source of strength and support / Right from the very start."

23. “What Is A Dad” — Annmarie Campbell

“A Dad is patient / Helpful and strong / He is there by your side / When things go wrong.”

24. “Dear Dad” — Anonymous

“You mean so very much to me / And I want you to know / That you are always in my heart / No matter where I go / You're always giving/ Always there, to help in any way / The loving things you've done for me, I never could repay/ I can't imagine what I'd do, without the love you give / I'll treasure your sweet heart of gold, as long as I shall live."

25. “You Gave Us The World” — Julian Brydie

“You gave us the world, with your love and care / Your strength and wisdom, always there / You showed us how to stand tall and be brave / And be kind and compassionate in every way / Through thick and thin, you were always our guide / Your love and support, we cannot hide / Dad, we're grateful for all that you do / We love you so much, Happy Father's Day to you!”