today my grandfather told me
that i am brilliant

"oh, i'm not brilliant"
i said, as i am absolutely ordinary

"no," he replied
"you are.
you have life and promise"

he told me
of all the brilliant people he knew
that no one understood
and no one could handle their vivacity

but he also told me
that brilliant people
cannot handle themselves
(this sounds a bit more like me)
he said to be careful
and to handle myself,
forgive my missteps,
and not fall far behind