A Father’s Breath
A powerful Father’s Day poem—and the haunting short film that brings it to life
Happy Father’s Day from the Soul Boom Team 💫
This week, we’re delighted to share something intimate, layered, and deeply human—a poem and film from our friend, the radiant Sean Hill.
Sean has been a friend of the Soul Boom creative family for a long time now. Rainn has tapped Sean to share poetry at multiple events. And Sean's also been friends with Samah (one of Soul Boom's exec producers) for years. We love this photo of Sean and Samah below—because just like it’s hard to tell where Sean’s afro ends and Samah’s beard begins, it reminds us how connected we all are, in spite of our differences.
And what more fitting time to reflect on that than Father’s Day?
Fatherhood is central to the human story—and woven into every culture. And yet, our relationships with fathers and father figures are as unique as each human being.
Sean’s poem, A Father’s Breath: I See You, meets at that intersection of the universal and the personal. It’s a quiet, powerful portrait witnessing the details that make up a life—its dignity, its history, its humor, its agency, its breath.
We invite you to read the poem, composed in Sean’s signature lyrical voice—and also to watch the accompanying cine-poem. The short film weaves together his performance with intimate footage of his ailing father, and was directed, filmed, and edited by Misaq, Sean’s longtime friend and a talented filmmaker in his own right.
Sean and Misaq share the experience of caring for their fathers through serious illness, and that parallel journey forms the emotional core of their work together on the film version of A Father’s Breath. This collaboration marks the first in what they hope will become a series of “cine-poems”—cinematic renderings of poems that hold space for reflection, healing, and presence.
Misaq’s Afghan heritage also informs the film. Poets hold a central place in his cultural lineage. As Misaq told us, while "Rumi is the most known in the west, there are some other major characters that are as prolific and can be equally influential in our lives: Ghaznavi, Jami, Ansari, Herwai, Rabia, Khattak and Rahman to name a few." This work honors that tradition—encouraging us to not just read the poem but to fully experience it.
Wishing you peace, memory, and gentle connection on this day of days.
The Soul Boom Team
"The next generation should be better than the last."
"Take care of business before it takes care of you."
"SEAN! Help me find the remote."
Those are just three of many things my dad used to say to me growing up—and even now, into my early 40s. I can be a very private person when it comes to sharing family moments and history. So, being an actor and spoken word poet who openly shares the most intimate details of my life—my thoughts, pain, opinions, and hopes for a better world—can feel like a sharp contrast. And yet…
I welcome it all.
And I think I have my dad—who you can call, Steve—to thank for that.
He was born in Harlem, NY, to a father who wasn’t fully present and a mother who did her best, working hard to provide for her two kids. My dad experienced mental and emotional abuse early on—sometimes at the hands of babysitters or family members who treated him worse than his brother. They withheld food and and made his life as a child harder than it was supposed to be.
Growing up, I learned from him that education, surviving, transcending adversities by “making the most with the hand you’re dealt”—is what shaped the man he became.
After joining the Air Force and earning degrees in psychology and sociology, he eventually worked for LA County’s Emergency Response to Child Abuse at DCFS. He retired after being hit by a car on the job. A series of health challenges followed, but by then he had already helped countless kids and families in LA. I was always proud to call him Dad. Even while raising four kids—some with my mom, some from a previous relationship—he never stopped trying to give us his best.
Multiple bouts of cancer. Back surgeries. Torn rotator cuffs. Near-death experiences. ICU visits. And still—he’d ask how your day was and genuinely mean it. He wanted to help. He gave free (and good) advice. He made you laugh and smile on the inside. And if he couldn’t fix your problem, he’d still do whatever he could to lift your spirit.
I could talk forever about my dad: he’s a best friend, companion, a doctor when I was sick, a tough advice-giver—whether I wanted it or not… lol.
It was that deep love for my dad in his 77th year of life that inspired me to write the poem Soul Boom is sharing with you today. It’s about his experience with cancer–and mine as his caretaker.
Shout out to Misaq, who directed and edited the cinematic version—thank you from the bottom of my heart, Misaq, for doing this poem justice visually.
And when you're done with the poem, I hope, dear Soul Boom family, that you’ll consider a simple, heartfelt invitation from me—this Father’s Day, to do something simple but powerful:
Write a poem about your dad or father figure.
Whether you love him or have a complicated relationship with him—whether it feels weird or easy—try putting a feeling, a memory, or a moment into words. Start anywhere. Maybe share it with him. Or don’t. You don’t have to show it to anyone. But if you do, feel free to hashtag #PoemForPoppa and tag me—Instagram / Facebook / X—or just send it to a close friend and share the story out loud with someone you trust.
Because sometimes, a poem spoken out loud lets you feel things worth feeling you never knew were there. If you share my poem or yours with your dad, he may just feel something he rarely gets to feel: Seen. Appreciated. Loved.
My dad once got mad when I surprised him on his birthday. But later, he smiled big about it. He felt deeply loved by all of us. I made him poems. Sometimes he cried. Sometimes he just smiled. Either way, the world always felt more beautiful when he did.
He felt more beautiful, too.
Some dads don’t always know how to receive that. But even if your dad isn’t here anymore, I have a feeling he'll still appreciate it.
May this poem spark reflections on your own connection to your father—or father figure. I hope it brings healing, especially for anyone who's dealt with health struggles in their family. Much love and respect to you and your families this Father’s Day Soul Boom fam.
— Sean Hill
A Father’s Breath: I See You
By Sean Hill
Even
sitting next to him
in a hospital bed
he inspires me
even as he breathes
with oxygen
connected to his nose
his inhalation
literally re-inspires
both of us
his mouth agape
80 degrees open
like he must have slept
when child
sucking thumb
in times of needing comfort
when no one can or will deliver it
to him
he
gasped for air today
midnight around then
lungs
filled with fluid
pleural edema
they call it
but not calling my mom
when my dad could have died
is what we call it
at least let us know he was moved
to 5th floor icu again
with a small phone call
after you stabilize him
is what we call it
requesting from doctors
basic questions and concerns
about the times he gets poked
by needle and bleeds wrong
can we get the phlebotomist
who has never injured him
hard to build trust with each new one
who says they have done this
a hundred times
yet can't find his vein
yet poke and prod and prick and poke again
yet makes him feel
like his pain
doesn't matter again
no
two letters
one word
that takes his power back
saying no more blood tests for today
or no i don’t want that medication
as he makes sure he doesn’t get addicted to it
no even to me when i offer him a green smoothie
too late for him to drink it
but grateful he’s said yes to it many other times
two letters
one word one syllable
that makes his life
at least his again
even if it may not continue living
some hold
on to life
because it is theirs to hold on to
and the way they live it
is what matters
more than having it
sometimes i debate
whether the same is true for me
if i will be able to trade
control for length or quality
but
will i
be my father's son
is
a question
for another poem
this is about my dad
his peace
his life
not my opinion
but his preference
his perseverance
his judgment
not always perfect
but clear to him
not always healthy
but comforting
not always the best outcome
but his life
nonetheless
truly none less
he is at peace
he tells me
with 4 liters of air
rushing into his nose
hard to hear him
but clearly he says
he is happy
to have helped more people
than he hurt
done everything
he wanted to
or aimed to do
created a family
with kids he says
who can do everything
he can do
and better
i stop him
i'm not there yet i say
he says
i never said now
you will though
his
confidence
in me
in all his offspring
is inspiring
and tear making
droplet forming
in left eye
closer to nose
as i write this
next to his hospital bed
next to his notepad
he asked me for
to write down
things to do
for the house
for the bills
for mom
for me
he
is still
looking out for us
and thinking of us
and believing in us
and loving us
in all the ways
he knows how
and still able to
in the hospital bed
next to me
to the left of me
he often
feels like the best of me
~
About Sean Hill
From Inglewood to TED Talks, Sean Hill brings passion, peace, perspective, and purpose to everything he does. His highlights include a 40-city tour with Andy Grammer, award-winning performances in film, hosting festivals, and teaching the healing power of poetry in schools and online. He’s also helped build two gender-equal schools in Africa and Nepal. Sean’s mission: to help create world peace through inner peace—with compassion, laughter, and love.
Follow: @LetsBendReality • Sign up at LetsBendReality.com • Watch on YouTube
About Misaq
Misaq is a Tongvaland/Los Angeles-based director of Afghan heritage with a master’s degree in film. Over the past 15 years, he’s produced more than 30 documentary works. His latest projects include Artists of LA, a short doc and photography series spotlighting LA-based creatives, and Art & Soul, an upcoming docuseries following the life and work of a celebrated muralist.
Thank you for sharing so much❤️
As I was reading the poem lost forgotten memories popped up 💕
My heart is full - less missing - he left this physical plain in Oct 2018.
Brilliant, beautiful, and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing.