He and I

A poem that captures something universal: the way a child sees their father as larger than life. Written from the perspective of a young boy, the poem lists the things "he" does - the father who is strong, who works, who is always there. And "I" is the child, small and watching, full of quiet admiration. James Whitcomb Riley wrote in a deceptively simple style, using a child's direct voice to express profound tenderness. There is no plot, just a series of small moments that build into a portrait of love: the father's hands, his presence, the space he fills in a child's world. It feels like overhearing a child talk about their dad - earnest, unguarded, and deeply affecting. Riley was one of America's most beloved poets, and this poem shows why: he understood that the deepest emotions often live in the simplest words.