Father's Letter by Eugene Field
The poem is a nostalgic and sentimental tribute to the speaker's father. It expresses deep love and admiration for the father, who is portrayed as a kind and gentle person. The speaker recalls happy memories of their childhood, when they would sit on their father's knee and listen to his stories. The poem also touches on the theme of mortality, as the speaker acknowledges that their father has passed away, leaving them with a sense of loss and longing.
By Eugene Field · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Epistolary · 896 words
First lines
I'm going to write a letter to our oldest boy who went / Out West last spring to practise law and run for president; / I'll tell him all the gossip I guess he'd like to hear, / For he hasn't seen the home-folks for going on a year! / Most generally it's Marthy does the writing, but as she / Is suffering with a felon, why, the job devolves on me -- / So, when the supper things are done and put away to-night, / I'll draw my boots and shed my coat and settle down to write.
What this Textopian page supports
Father's Letter is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Epistolary, Humor, Regional Literature
- Length: 896 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Father's Letter by Eugene Field
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- Child And Mother by Eugene Field
- Fathers Way by Eugene Field
- Grandmas Prayer by Eugene Field
- The Singer Mother by Eugene Field
- My Boy by James Whitcomb Riley
- Berangers To My Old Coat by Eugene Field
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhythm and rhyme, characteristic of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The narrative explores themes of family, nostalgia, and communication, typical of literary fiction.
- Epistolary — The format of the work is a letter, which aligns with the epistolary genre.
- Humor — The light-hearted tone and humorous observations about rural life contribute to the comedic elements.
Tags
Nostalgia · Childhood · Memories · Family · Father-son relationship · Love · Sentimental · Emotional · Personal · Introspective · Reflective · Poetic