My Daddy's Daddy

I wrote this poem for my grandfather, who died recently. I wrote it on the night we were told that his fight against cancer was over. For you, Lolo Lucien :)

Back when I was younger,

I used to say he's mad.

I used to believe he was out to get me--

He was my daddy's daddy.

Half of my life, he was away,

Living in another man's land

We only used to see him rarely

Him--my daddy's daddy.

Now I'm a teenager at fifteen,

Singing songs and praises for him and Him,

My father's father, and the Father above,

That he has joined in love.

One day, I know, I'll see him again,

And that's the day I'll be like him,

An angel who has lead and will lead a life of family,

The man I call 'Daddy's Daddy.'

As I grew a little older,

And life began to seem so senseless,

When dad left us to protect our country,

His daddy stayed with me.

Even though I'm not good at showing it,

I want everyone to know the truth.

That here I am, a poem in hand,

Saying, "I do love that man."

He's my daddy's daddy,

The man who never left the family

He started, and loved, and taught, and lead,

The man who's now lying in that bed.

I've read and heard they never truly leave us,

They stay with us in our thoughts and hearts.

All that's left with me now are memories,

Of me and my daddy's daddy.

Mommy used to tell me stories

Of my brother's childhood times.

The times that he was lucky

Enough to spend with our paternal granddaddy.

He's a man with white hair,

Pale skin and brown eyes,

With a powerful smile and a bright mind,

And a heart that's worth more than he used to mine.

At three o'clock one morning,

I received a message from one of my cousins.

Telling me grandpa has moved on,

Into a better place, a brighter live, a love we all know.

He'll always be

My daddy's daddy

The one who liked to spoil me

One of the four men who lead my family.

Author's Note

Explanation for the last line: My father was rarely home, you see, so my only father figures were four men: my mother's father, her brother, my father's brother, and my grandmother's nephew-in-law. Before the man in the poem died, my other uncle (one of the four) died as well. Please tell me what you think. I honestly think it's a corny, but I wrote that while I was crying and while my mind was still reeling from the thought of losing two important men in my life :')

Reviews

[Pax]

Even though you have only shown a glimpse of his life in your poem, i still felt the overflowing emotions of a person who had just lost a love one... I for one lost a love one, the most important one - my mother... she also died in the hands of cancer, a very elusive and most destructive living disease - the hardest to kill because it usually spread out to other organs affecting it...

on the other side... i also cried when i lost my lolo... our grandparents always spoils us with good stories and everything that is good for us... they help and love us in anyway possible... maybe because we are the legacy of their genes... the next generations of the family... i look forward to that someday... to see my grandchildren... it must be an awesome sight and feelings... and to a grandchild who love his/her grandparent, it a great lost... like nothing seems to be the same... you'll missed this person... but all i know like you said in the authors note... they are always watching over us... they will remain in our hearts... a memory to remember by to tell your next childrens... how your grandparents marks a landmark in your heart...

a very expressive piece!
100/100

[Cordelia]

Thank you very much. You're right--honestly, though I'm young, I keep imagining myself in the shoes of grandparents watching their children's children grow to become who they are. And I'm happy that, in his lifetime, my grandfather was able to see and watch me :)

[Pax]

your a good kid so keep it up, my little sis...
and your most welcome!