Across the years he could recall
His father one way best of all.
In the stillest hour of night
The boy awakened to a light.
Half in dreams, he saw his sire1
With his great hands full of fire.
The hand struck a match to see
If his son slept peacefully.
He held his palms each side the spark
His love had kindled2 in the dark.
His two hands were curved apart
In the semblance3 of a heart.

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父亲当年有一事，
多年以后记得真。
已是更深夜正静，
小儿醒来有光明。
梦回时分见老爸，
彤彤红火满手映。
划根火柴仔细瞧，
宝宝是否睡的稳。
巴掌挡在火星旁，
爱火暗中立升腾。
双手拱起作一状，
不似别物只似心。
 

　　Robert P. Tristram Coffin (1892—1955)， 美国作家，以诗出名。这首诗里的慈父，夜里悄悄看孩子睡着没有，碰巧小孩醒来，看到父亲小心翼翼地呵护着点燃的火柴，双手拱起，被火光映得红彤彤的手，正像一颗红彤彤的心。多年过去了，这一幕永远留在小孩的心上。此诗语言平实朴素，但很亲切感人。亲情就是这样，默默的，悄悄的，一点也不夸张，只是温馨，只是难得。

1. sire  n． 父亲
2． kindle  v． 点燃，照亮
3． semblance   n． 相似