#grandfather poems on Hello Poetry

JR Rhine Jan 2019

My grandfather peels an
X-chromosome off his liquor bottle
skips it across the pool of my mother’s genes
until it reaches me
yellow cigarette stained walls
green ashtray carpet on his tongue
blue back room full of old guitars
black mechanic oil stained hands
sandpaper voice
watching Jaws 4
homeless woman on couch
feeds dog black coffee
brown belly dragging across tongue
Thanksgiving dinners
my brother plays “Purple Haze”
out of a reluctant amplifier
the old folks applaud
the colors are beginning to
fade
he
battling cancer his way
watching Jaws 4
dog now dead
homeless woman now
no longer homeless
back skin where left ear
used to be
old guitars pawned for
drugs
Purple Haze fades to
black as colors do
and they say
it skips a generation
and now when shades
of pink appear white
my tongue grows thick
smoke burns my nostrils
and
I can only think of
how terrible of a film
Jaws 4 is.

For Tommy Robinson. Rest easy grandpa, hope you got that ear back.

#grandfather #hereditary #colorblind #alcohol #color #house #family #jaws #fade #memory

JS CARIE Jan 2019

Far From Bliss

Why didn’t I age a little faster

While in your prime I had no clue then, what I’d be asking

How your birth came just years after prohibition

You probably told me time and again of your rise in habitation

The work you put in made your body a wall of bricks

But my ignorance was far from bliss

Your sleeping stories have a magic passion
I could beg and dig in illusion to hear more

Piece back every one of your ashes
to lend an ear with my heart open
to be in your presence and listen to your folklore

#nostalgia #greatdepression #grandfather

Philomena Dec 2018

Grandfather

You were the best man I have ever known

You always loved me
And I know you still do
Just from up above

You had the warmest smile
Accompanied with your mustache
And you gave the best hugs
When we would leave I would save you for last so it was the last hug of the night
A final impression to take home with me

You catered to my imagination, and never stifled me
Even when I wanted to cover myself in ribbon from head to toe and be a Christmas fairy
Or refused to eat Capt'n Crunch simply because my bother liked it

You made me strong
Always taking me out into the woods
Or letting me play just like the boys
Firing arrows in the garden
Or learning to ride motorcycle and ripping up fields

You taught me to be kind just like you
To love like you
And believe me
I want nothing more than to be just like you

The day you left me I felt sick before I even heard
Something wasn't right in the world
And when they told me I knew why
It tore me apart
I tried everything to keep myself busy
And put on the most beautiful black dress

I laid a daisy on you casket
Because Daises are your favorite just like me
And we put you in the ground

I'm told they found you in those woods we played in
That you died where you loved it most

And even though I cant hold you in my arms
I carry you in my heart
Always

About 5 years now, and not a day goes by where I'm not reminded of you. So thank you for being the best grandfather I could have asked for.

#grandpa #grandfather #love #death #goodbye #missing #daisies

Zukiswa Mvunguse Nov 2018

When I was little

When I was little
The township we called home was the centre of my world
Our mud and zinc house was a Palace
My father it’s King
And we were his little princesses
My mother was just my mother
She wasn’t regal enough to be a queen

When I was little
We vacationed at centre of the universe
Nevermind that my grandparents farm lacked running water or electricity
And stood at the bottom of the valley
Surrounded on all sides by majestic hills
In comparison, it was just a stepping stone to the heavens
Even so, it was my heaven

When I was little
I looked to the heavens and I saw God
He wore a threadbare, leathery moonless night sky for skin
And had a cloudy facade with fallen stars for eyes
But when My God smiled
Sunlight shone through the cracks
And we all wanted to busk in his radiance

When I was little
My grandfather seemed a God
On cold winter nights, huddled around the fireplace
Stories of youthful escapades and adventures in the big city Spilled from his ambrosia loosened lips
Mesmerised by this linguistic wizardry
We hung onto every word as he switched from English to Afrikaans to Sesotho to Xhosa and back

When I was little
I was happiest lying in the sun
But than I grew up and the shadows were more inviting
Kingdoms fell and Gods became mere mortals
When I was little
The women in my family were merely extras to their male leads
But as I grew up they evolved into pillars
Holding up the roof their male counterparts have left to disrepair

I had to write an essay for English class about my childhood, but ended up with this. My grandfather died 2 years ago and I was emotionless at the time, so this suprised me.

#grandfather #family #younger

Sadie Oct 2018

Ol' Button-Up

ruffling through the cedar
she plucked the cigar from her palms
and into the pocket of his plaid button-up

it was in these moments that we steered away
from our harsh reality

For my Pappy.
I love you.

October 10, 2018

#love #death #grandfather #reality #memories

Anya Sep 2018

I didn't Cry

Am I...
cold?

I didn't cry when my grandpa died
Yes, I'd only seen him several times

Long visits across the ocean
during the summer
Apparently,
he spent a lot of time with me
at my birth

But...

I didn't cry
I was more concerned with giving my dad
support
...
It makes sense I guess

#cold #death #grandpa #grandfather #parents #dad #support #cry #sad

Joey fonseca Aug 2018

Allan’s guitar

Dark and beautiful
I could play for hours
Running my fingers down
The strings upon the frets
Like a kayak
Floating down a strong river
Riff by riff Chord by chord
Played all day and all night
I play and sing by myself
Yet I am not alone
For with every string strummed
he is with me
But what I would give
Just to hear once more
My grandfather play us a song

#grandfather #sad #guitar #music #love

Ray Ross Jul 2018

The Day Grandpa Died

My Momma told me this,
"Be strong for your Dad."
So I stood tall, strong for him.
The day Grandpa died.

I put on my snow pants,
I was just a kid,
And walked out into the cold.
Only then, I cried.

I walked alone, through snow.
I barely minded.
Everything was cold that day.
I thought about him.

Larry was a good man.
He liked photographs,
And he taught me how to wink.
Grandma loved him much.

I walked quite far that day,
Before coming home.
I wanted to be alone.
I had to be strong.

On the day Grandpa died,
I didn't eat much.
But I stood tall for my dad.
The day his dad died.

6
5
7
5

#loss #grandpa #grandfather #death #mourning

JS CARIE Jun 2018

Former Father or Latter

Oh sweet father
Archetype of a man
Determined artisan
Architect of life
Aged without any ego
Balance in the throes
Passed on regrettable genes
Always wore your wedding ring
Hoped we were dead you screamed
Just to name a few things

Oh grandfather
the eminent
My true father so evident
Worked a gold cast
Until it broke your back
Aged without ego
Stable through hardship woes
Your blood didn't run in my veins
But I would gladly take your genes
Always wore your wedding ring
Born a quiet cool
And as calm as a summer spring

#father #grandfather