\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
    December    
SMTWTFS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Archive RSS
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/books/entry_id/980136-Grampy
Image Protector
by Rhyssa Author IconMail Icon
Rated: 18+ · Book · Contest Entry · #1912256
a descent into poetry insanity
#980136 added April 3, 2020 at 4:17pm
Restrictions: None
Grampy
I never knew the man
my mother did. when I knew him,
he smelled of Chiclets and
coffee and had the biggest smile
that wrinkled his face into
a maze of laughter. when I knew
him, he would sit beside Mama
and they would slip peas
from plate to plate while the other
was distracted, innocence written
all over each face. when I knew him,
old age hid the engineer who
had kept his boat running—Erie to
Superior—behind shaking hands
and slippery memories. I don't remember
the man who, when I was a toddler,
crawled the floor with me. he died
when I was too far away
to make it to the funeral, more than
half my life ago, and when Mama tells
stories of who he was to her,
I listen and wish I knew
that man.

line count: 23
April 3: recall a person you did not know intimately or well

© Copyright 2020 Rhyssa (UN: sadilou at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Rhyssa has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Printed from https://writing.com/main/books/entry_id/980136-Grampy