"Always My Father, Always Mine" (Baba’s Love Needs No Words)
The cover image reflects the emotional core of this poem — a father whose love is not expressed through gentle words, but through constant protection and unwavering presence. Just as Baba’s silence in the poem hides a fierce devotion, the image captures love spoken only through a gaze and a steady hand.
Image interpretation: The father’s calm strength and the child’s trusting gaze visualize the poem’s message that true paternal love is often silent, protective, and understood without words.
Introduction : Some love is never spoken, yet it shapes a lifetime. This poem is a son’s reflection on a father whose care lived in silence. Through scolding, restraint, and unyielding protection, love found its way. It is written for the fathers who never say “I love you,” but prove it every day. For the strength that stood quietly behind us. For the love that never left.
Disclaimer:
This poem is written to honor the deep, often unspoken love of a father for his child. It reflects emotional truth and personal experience, not judgment or comparison. Please respect this work and do not misuse, alter, or present it out of context. This piece is shared solely to acknowledge and appreciate the silent sacrifices of fathers everywhere.
"Always My Father, Always Mine"
(Baba’s Love Needs No Words)
Baba, when I stand before your eyes,
You scold me hard—or silence replies…
Your words burn sharp—they strike like flame;
Yet I am your blood, I bear your name.
You call me weak, you call me less—
But I know the truth beneath the stress.
Behind each anger, harsh and loud,
Lives a love you never speak aloud…
You never speak it, never show,
But I have always come to know—
If love stays quiet, does it die?
No, Baba—your love still fills the sky.
They say a father is a tree,
A shade from sun, a shelter free;
But you were more than shade to me—
You stood like armor, guarding me.
When raging storms approached my door,
You faced them first—you took the roar.
From childhood days to where I stand,
You fought the world with open hands.
You hid your wounds, you masked your pain,
So I could smile… so I could gain.
Not once you showed the scars you wore;
You kept me safe—always, evermore.
Like a lion through the silent nights,
Guarding me from hidden fights,
You watched my steps, you drew the line—
Pulled danger back, pushed fear behind.
My brave Baba, fierce and true,
Your strength still carries me through.
Even now, though I have grown,
To you I’m still that child you’ve known—
The boy you lifted, proud and high,
On your strong shoulders, near the sky…
Time moved fast, yet in your sight,
I’m still that boy—still held tight.
To shape my soul, to make me right,
You gave your days, you gave your nights.
Like a gardener with careful hands,
You raised my roots so I could stand.
You dreamed I’d bloom, you dreamed I’d rise,
A better man before your eyes.
For all my tomorrows, bright and wide,
You paid the price—you stepped aside.
Once my teacher spoke my name,
“Shahzad,” she said—it burned like flame.
A prince by name, and then I knew,
That dream was planted first by you.
You raised me not with wealth or throne,
But royal values, deeply sown.
Baba, you are a King so true,
And I—your unworthy prince before you.
When faces changed and masks fell low,
When every bond let go… let go—
When all the world turned cold and free,
You stayed—my anchor, close to me.
You never let me walk a path untold;
In every trial, you were my hold.
Life without you feels stripped and bare—
Like walls without a roof of care.
But Baba, hear these words from me:
Through joy or grief, through stormy sea,
I will not leave, I will not stray—
I’ll stand beside you every day.
For when you scold, or joke, or smile,
I feel I matter—even for a while.
How rich I am, how blessed above,
To be raised by your silent love.
May Allah keep your shadow near,
Above our heads—year after year.
Ameen, my Baba—wise and kind,
Your son is yours… till the end of time.
—Shahzad Sulaiman
Author’s Note (Summary) :
baba, whenever I come before you, every time you either scold me by calling me useless, or you simply remain silent. But still, in the end, I am your own blood, am I not?
I know what lives in your heart. I understand that behind every scolding and every moment of anger, there is a father’s heart that loves me endlessly. You may never speak it with your tongue, but does that mean I would not understand? I know how deeply you care for me.
Someone once said beautifully that a father is a shade that protects his child from the burning heat of the sun. But for me, you are far more than that — you are the one who has protected me like a shield from every hardship that ever came my way. From childhood until today, you never allowed even a scratch to reach me. Just as a lion protects its cubs, you too protected me in every possible way — you guarded me, you kept me safe.
My brave father, my courageous father.
Today, I may have grown so big, yet no matter how grown I become, for you I am still the same son whom you carried on your shoulders all your life. In making me a successful and compassionate human being, you left no effort undone. Just as a gardener waters a small flower, takes care of it with the hope that one day this tiny bud will grow, and people will become enchanted by its beauty and fragrance — in the same way, you devoted your days and nights to my success.
Once, one of my teachers told me that your father named you Shahzad because you are his prince. And in that moment my heart testified that this was true, because you raised me the way a King raises his prince. baba, you are a King, and I am your unworthy prince.
When every person in the world began to reveal their true colors, their true faces, and when everyone left me alone, it was you who stood by me. Not for a single moment did you allow me to feel that I was alone. In every phase of life, you became my support. Every single moment spent without you feels to me like a house without a roof, and my heart grows heavy with sadness.
But baba, this unworthy son of yours will never leave your side. I will remain with you at all times — to see your smiling face, to listen to your wise words, to be scolded by you. Because whenever you advise me, joke with me, or even scold me, it feels like there is someone who cares for me deeply. And when this thought enters my mind, I realize how fortunate I am that my great father, my lion-hearted father, is with me.
May Allah always keep your shadow upon our heads.
Ameen.
Awareness Message:
This poem is a tribute to fathers whose love is quiet but unwavering, whose strength protects us even when we cannot see it.
To every child who forgets to notice the sacrifices behind a scolding, the care hidden in silence, or the protection that goes unseen — pause and reflect.
A father’s love is not always spoken, yet it shapes who we are, shields us from life’s storms, and stands as a foundation we often take for granted.
Before it’s too late, look closely at his actions, feel the depth of his care, and honor the man who quietly carries your world on his shoulders.
Did this poem touch your heart and make you reflect on the countless sacrifices your father has made to give you a better life than his own? If it did, why not take a moment to express your love — whether in front of him or in the comment section below?
And if this stirred something in you and you’re craving more poems filled with the same love, care, and emotion, feel free to explore my other works — each one written with the same devotion as this piece.
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