This poem explores how a father shows love for his son in concrete but unspoken ways — and passes the practice to the next generation.
by Fred L. Joiner | illustration by Lidia Churakova

Fred L. Joiner is a poet and curator in Carrboro. His work has been published in various journals, anthologies and art catalogs. Joiner has presented his work nationally and internationally, served as Poet Laureate of Carrboro and was awarded an Academy of American Poets Laureate Fellowship in 2019. His debut collection, The Mirror in Our Music (Birds LLC), is forthcoming. About his poem, he says: “This is a persona poem in my father’s voice. It is me thinking about how he expresses his love in concrete, yet often non-verbal ways. I revisited this poem when I became a father and thought about the rituals I build with my children. I’m particularly proud of it because it opened another door in the love my father and I share.”

Lidia Churakova is a visual artist who loves to share her creativity through multiple outlets, such as illustration, painting and murals. Coming from a strong design background with a bachelors degree in Art and Design from North Carolina State University, she approaches projects with a desire to express the emotional narrative through color and light.

This article originally appeared in the February 2026 issue of WALTER magazine.