Compare And Contrast Papa's Bridge And Just The Two Of Us

The love between father and son can be one of the most beautiful things in the world. Richard Blanco’s poem, “Papa’s Bridge”, and Will Smith’s song, “Just the Two of Us”, both talk about the relationship between father and son. Blanco’s poem comes from mostly the son’s point of view, while Smith’s comes from the father’s point of view. Although the poem and song both have different tones, both are similar in projecting the love between a father and son. The poem and song rely heavily on reminiscing and talking about memories of the past. When sending their message, both speakers look back at their earlier lives. The song, “Just The Two of Us”, starts off right from the get go, “From the first time the doctor placed you in my arms I knew I’d meet death before I’d let you meet harm” (Lines 2-3). In a similar way, Blanco talks about the father from the son’s point of view, “And for a few inclined seconds every morning / I am twelve years old with my father standing / at the tenth floor

Papa’s Bridge speaks about a son taking care of his father who is recovering from being ill. His son is there for him in the hospital, watching over him feeding, and attending to anything he needed. Blanco goes on to say in the poem, “I cross this city, this bridge, still spanning / the silent distance between us with the memory / of a father and son holding hands, secretly in love” (Lines 36-39). While Will Smith’s “Just The Two of Us” shows love as well, talking about his unconditional love for his child, and being there for him throughout his son’s birth to adolescence. Smith sings, “Always, tell the truth, say your prayers hold doors, pull out chairs, easy on the swears, you’re living proof that dreams do come true, I love you and I’m here for you” (Lines 64-77). The father is telling his story in the song, while in the poem the son his telling his