Strength*  
An image of a man
Who has been weathered by the hands of time
Stands tall refusing to fall
As the world around him crumbles.

Eyes cold and distant
Clouded by a sea of sadness
Reserved and unbreakable he stands
As a million of emotions beckon him
*Cry
Scream
Do something…
Yet silence is all he allows to be heard

He watches helplessly as the unspoken words
Slowly fill the empty space around him
Acknowledging the solemn tear-filled eyes
That stare consolingly at him

While I one of the tear-filled eyes watch
The man …who to me is called grandpa  
Shut the world out
Letting nothing penetrate his solid exterior
A pillar of strength he stands tall
In the eyes of his heart-broken granddaughter.

Unaware of my admiration
He ignores the tears begging to fall
Fights the pain that is now spreading
Like a fire through every vein
Amplify his longing for the impossible
Breaking his heart of stone.

All this pain remains unseen
As he stands refusing to break
Unwillingly accepting that what he lost
Can no longer be found here…

His crutch in times of need
His shoulder to cry on
A friend that can never be replaced
All will forever be reminders of
The brother he lost.