Fathers seldom say "I love you" 

Though the feeling's always there,  

But somehow those three little words 

Are the hardest ones to share. 

And fathers say "I love you" 

In ways that words can't match-- 

With tender bed time stories  

Or a friendly game of catch! 

You can see the words "I love you" 

In a father's boyish（孩子气的） eyes

When he runs home, all excited, 

With a poorly wrapped surprise. 

A father says "I love you" 

With his strong helping hands 

With a smile when you're in trouble 

With the way he understands. 

He says "I love you" haltingly（犹豫地）. 

With awkward tenderness-- 

It's hard to help a four-year-old into a party dress! 

He speaks his love unselfishly 

By giving all he can 

To make some secret dream come true. 

Or follow through a plan. 

A father's seldom-spoken love 

Sounds clearly through the years-- 

Sometimes in peals of laughter, 

Sometimes through happy tears. 

Perhaps they have to speak their love 

In a fashion all their own. 

Because the love that fathers feel  

Is too big for words alone!