American Sonnet for Father Day and the Wisdom Tree by Yvette Perry, Listener Poet

Origin Story

Our conversation began with this poemee's reflections about Father's Day, and the ways in which he felt fathers are not celebrated as much as mothers often are. An active father himself, he recognized some of the reasons this was so, but lamented that our culture has not found a way to adequately celebrate experiences of men. This then morphed into a conversation about men's health and his own cancer scare. "I already had a mistrust of the healthcare system," he said. At first, he wanted to attempt to treat himself using home remedies. But he was led to innovative medical treatments by a caring Black female physician. "I'm about 85% now. I'll take that. It will be another year before I'm considered cancer-free."

He stated that he was an optimistic person generally, and appreciated the wisdom that came with age. "When I see an old dude who's optimistic, living his life, I always stop to talk to him to try to find out what he has done. I may not always agree with what he says," he said, laughing, "but I do want to know what his secret is."

Yvette Perry, Listener Poet
Health4Equity
Summer 2022
Presented at the National Council on Family Relations Annual Conference 2025

American Sonnet for Father Day and the Wisdom Tree

By Yvette Perry, Listener Poet

He lives in the cool shade of the old oak.

Under its canopy we sit. We dap.

I tell you time I got Big C? Stage 3?

Thought I was gonna cure myself--apple

Cider vinegar and vegan. (He laughs.)

I’m 70. Wouldn’t be, though, if I’d

Just done all that homeopathic stuff.

I ask why he’s always optimistic.

Pain flickers brief behind shut eyes seeing

Drugs drain wisdom from whole communities…

This tree here? It survived many storms, still

Stands. That’s me, just celebrating living.

I nod. I know that one day I’m old dude

Living under this tree. Hope it guides me.

More Poems & Stories

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American Sonnet for Father Day and the Wisdom Tree

"I already had a mistrust of the healthcare system," he said. At first, he wanted to attempt to treat himself using home remedies. But he was led to innovative medical treatments by a caring Black female physician. "I'm about 85% now. I'll take that. It will be another year before I'm considered cancer-free."

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