Walking with giants- number one...

May poetry number five... I wrote poetry in my dreams. I hope you enjoy.

                       Walking with giants- number one...

My two grand-boys are sleeping in the other room at 5am. I awoke early after a good dream and the house is quiet. I dreamed about my grandfathers. Grandpa Wayne and my Grandpa Reyes.

I was following them in my dreams. Grandpa Wayne had a big yard and every morning, he would ensure his flowers were watered and his garden was growing. I would try to help him. He was a six foot man who loved to talk and he loved to laugh. He took care me and my sister for many years. He never complained.

He was loved by the children. They would bring their broken bikes and he would fix them. He found old bikes and he repaired them and he gave them to the children, who did not have a bike. He was the neighborhood grandfather who was always kind and helpful.

I would sit with him and he would tell me great stories. He told me, once I walked with giants. I knew men who changed this world and you can too Johnnie. He told me often. "Always tell the truth. Lies will become twisted and you will forget the real truth. Your life will become a lie. No-one wants to be a friend with liars."

In the dream, I was following Grandpa Wayne and I knew. I was walking with giants.

Grandpa Reyes was a kind man. He ensured me and my sister always had a place to stay and food to eat. Every Friday, he and my grandmother would bring food to my struggling mother. They came to us with smiles on their faces and they took me and my sister to Belle Isle every weekend. I remember the kindness in his eyes. He would tell me often. Work hard, have fun and never fear life. He was a man who was born in Mexico city, fought in WW2 and he loved the USA. He told me. In the war. He stood with giants who befriended him. He would look sad and he would tell me. Some of the men are buried in Europe still. I remember following him by Lake St Clair and I thought. I was walking with a giant. I wanted to be like him.

I tell the young people, my child, my grandchildren. When we are young. We must learn from our mentors and when we are old. The student will become the teacher. I told the morning. Thank you for allowing me to walk with giants. I was honored.

Coyote

Author's Note

Thank you for reading.

Reviews

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

“He told me, once I walked with giants. I knew men who changed this world and you can too Johnnie. He told me often. "Always tell the truth. Lies will become twisted and you will forget the real truth. Your life will become a lie. No-one wants to be a friend with liars."
Very sage words from Grandpa Wayne dear Coyote. Love this prose piece- a wonderfully written, warm, personal share about you and your family. Thank you for this peek into your very special life.

[Coyote Poetry]

Thank you dear Annette. If we are lucky. We pay attention to our elders. In the end. We become the elders.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

I never knew my mother's dad but my dad told me he was a wonderful man. He lost his life saving another person according to all accounts. My daddy's dad was a mean spirited man, cold and distant and always in bad temper. He worked from dawn till dusk on his farm and had no time for "frivolous" behavior (that meant anything fun or not work) He did not smile or laugh. He did not dance or sing. He worked ate and slept and that was life to him. He didn't drink or smoke but dipped snuff and snuff spit was always running down his chin until he had a permanent brown stain at the corner of his mouth. He is not a person I remember fondly, quite the opposite, I was terrified of him and thought he was a disgusting person. My dad took more after his mother who died when he was ten of pellagra. All it would have took to save her life was some vitamins but grandpa wouldn't spend money on going to a doctor. Her family blamed grandpa for her death and quite rightly in my opinion. I'm glad you have fond memories of your grandparents. You honor them with your words.

[Coyote Poetry]

We learn from the good and we learn from the bad. Old days, men had to work. Thank you, Fabian, for reading and the comment.

[keith]

'sand daddy' (i couldn't say G when i was younger so my grandparents became 'sand mama & sand daddy)
and it stuck. my other grandmother was 'mama marie', don't remember my dad's father.
anyway, my point is i also lived amongst giants. 'sand daddy' often reminded us boys (4)
1) never kill for sport
2) never pass on a chance to pee
3) never trust a fart
i always heeded his words
he died an old frail man at 99, not the GIANT i had grown to love and respect
but i can choose to remember him in better days

again, your offering open doors to grand memories of 'walking with giants' ... thanks

[Coyote Poetry]

I liked your memories. Being a grandparent. A big responsibility. Thank you, Keith, for reading and the comment.

[Cherrie Palmer]

Wonderful. I wish my mind would let me walk with my family every night.

[Coyote Poetry]

I have dream writing for 30 years. I keep a notebook near. I believe. All of us are dream-walkers. Thank you dear Cherrie for reading and the comment.