Like the commemoration of all celebrations in the world, Father’s Day has its genesis in an idea of one or more people and a specific context. In 1910, a woman from the state of Washington, who was raised by her father along with five brothers, proposes the day of her father’s birthday “June 5”, to pay tribute to this figure, as a tribute to the dedication, love and care provided to their children; it is until 1924 when President Calvin Coolidge declares it a national celebration, spending seventy-two years to become nationalized (1996), being in the presidency Lyndon Johnson, who was in charge of it being stipulated in the national anniversaries for the third Sunday of June.
This tribute and recognition, as well as the designated date, was adopted with approval by most countries, however, as it is not a global commemoration, in other places, the dates are different.
Being a recently created event, it has been interfering in its practice, not only socially, but in the family reflection of what it means to be or have a father in the life of the human being. By the mere fact of being an immediate attachment figure in the primary nucleus, the psychological and emotional effect that it plays in the lives of those around it can be glimpsed.
This paternal representation has had some changes in the course of time; traditionally, he was seen as the highest authority in the home, the person in charge of working and providing for the maintenance; the figure of respect and government who should be obeyed, also being in charge of making decisions regarding the upbringing of children.
As women have gained ground in gender recognition and equality and have left private life to enter public life, this role has been adapted; parents are more involved from the gestation process and at the time of delivery; they carry, change and feed the children, they take care of household chores that were previously specific to women, they attend school meetings, it is a generator of bonds of love, a facilitator of dialogues and rapprochements, a source of emotional, affective and of protection, who exercises together with his partner a positive discipline, which sets limits and rules, preserving his status of authority, but shared and democratic.
To the extent that we delve into the search for a particular theme, we find that there is an infinity of literature on the matter. I allow myself to cite brief fragments of some of these, in order to find other visions and perspectives.
The Argentine poet Héctor Gagliardi wrote “Poema al padre” which literally says:
…Today I want to ask you,
why mothers threaten their children
with that fixed refrain of “oh when your father comes!”
and with your father from here, and with your father from there,
It turns out that in the end, seeing me come to me,
they see Cain enter and escape everywhere.
And I am tired of working all day,
welcome receipt a list of defendants,
you start with your complaints and I have to get angry,
just like my father did when he listened to my old lady…
As imperfect beings, we make constant mistakes, like the case mentioned by the poet, where the father is presented as the executor of punishment.
José Tcherkaski, Argentine poet, writer and composer of the melody “My old man”, which in 1969 consolidated the artistic career of Argentine singer-songwriter Piero Antonio Franco, has managed to transcend time and space, voice, rhythm, melody and above all the lyrics, is a tribute to the father for his son:
He’s a good guy my old man
who walks alone and waiting
has long sadness
from coming walking so much
I look at it from afar
but we are so different
is that it grew with the century
with tram and red wine
My old dear old
now you walk slowly
like forgiving the wind
I am your blood, my old man
I am your silence and your time…
The Mexican poet Juan de Dios Peza (1852-1910) among his great legacy left this poem full of love, gratitude, respect and veneration for his father:
My father
I have a sovereign at home
the only one whom my soul venerates
is his crown of gray hair
honor is his law and virtue his guide
My father has in his serene look
faithful reflection of his honest conscience;
How much loving and good advice
I am amazed at the brilliance of his gaze!
As a lover of poetry, I express my contribution here, thinking of that love that life took from me as a child; I grew up lacking that important figure, searching for it incessantly in the men that were in my family environment; I grew up rummaging through memory fragments, to reconstruct episodic events that allow me to preserve those remnants of memory.
Dad
Author: Cuquis Sandoval Olivas
blurred figure
blurred in the passing of time
broken conversations
silent monosyllables
trapped smiles
stained with brushstrokes of memories
patchwork darned love
seeking to compensate fragments
Capture the moments
who have survived
in the intangible recesses
of dialogue and thought
Dad,
one day
his weary step
and withered body
they couldn’t catch a glimpse
another new dawn
coming to the line
finite of time
shedding
of earthly clothing
And we… his children
we should learn:
to grow and live without his presence
to venerate the image
rescued from a photograph
and embrace a cold grave
Dad,
hole that no one else can fill
emptiness and loneliness
that he left in his children
orphan dresses
Dad,
blessed be your memory
rest in peace
in eternity.
