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

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

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.

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

My mind is fading
The dust is settling in
It suffocates me
I want to say I love you
But dementia won’t let me