Grandpa

The home builder

That stayed away from home for years

On the road making a living

Delivering

Sending things back and forth

All week

While his wife

Amps herself up

Is the disciplinarian in the absence

He comes home on the weekend

Gets to be the fun parent

Tough as f**k

The strong man

My male influence

Though not biological

In the ways that count, my father

I used to watch him

With big eyes

From my stroller

As he worked on the house I grew up in

Simcoe Street in Winnipeg

It's so strange to see him now

In his early eighties

How gentle he has become

In his demeanor

I would fight at school

I used to fear

What he would say

Way more than my mother

My mother was emotional

He kept a level head

So when he got angry

It made an impact

I looked up to his work ethic so much

I was so happy

That he was proud of me

When I worked the hardest

On my cub car

And won the races undefeated

That was the best making him proud

He still works so hard

Out in the country tending his garden

Taking care of my grandmother

The calm and laughter

To her passion and emotion

Of course they both love their family

Just how grandpa shows it

Much easier to get along with

I love my grandpa

I'm so glad that he is a part of my life

Though I grow and rebel

Trying to make my life on my own

Breaking away from the family

That raised me

Know that I always love and respect you

Grandpa

Reviews

[emmajoy]

' .. Taking care of my grandmother .. The calm and laughter .. To her passion and emotion .. '

How varied your writing is.. you must have a glorious rainbow mind! This is sweet and charming, honourable and sincere. We should all have such a man in our lives like your dear Grandpa.

[Luke L]

"a rainbow mind" Awesome!

[Victoria PoetryBunny]

A caring and loving write, nice one.

[Tabitha Deasún]

This sweet and endearing. It paints a picture in the mind of a hardworking, loving man that cares a great deal about his family. It reminds me a bit of my own Papaw who passed away back in 2000. Thank you for inspiring memories of my own while writing about your Grandpa. Beautiful work.

[Sarmelendez]

There are so many emotion in this poem. I can tell that you wrote this for him and that it came from your heart :)

thank you for sharing this wonderfully written poem

sarah :)

[Luke L]

thank you for the comment, Sarah

[Sarmelendez]

your welcome :)

[FlatLineBeauty]

I can tell how much you admired your grandpa. Beautiful.

[Luke L]

thank you very much :)

[MsJewel]

There is so much emotion in your poem - I can tell you wrote this from the heart. You may have feared this man, but the respect and the love is overpowering. It is a wonderful thing to write something that has touched another's heart - and you have touched mine.
:) Julie

[Luke L]

Thank you very much, Julie :)

[Missphit]

Such a wondrous dedication to a man you both respect, fear and love all at the same time, yet your love prevails over all. Your emotions clearly take over in this piece, written from a child's and an adult's point of view. It takes the reader on a journey through many years through so few words and it does so in such a manner that is a smoothe transaction. I can feel your emotion in this work and I love every bit of it!

[Luke L]

thank you very much, miss appreciate that :)

[bobc]

L...I think he knows. Lovely poem that we can all understand.

Two small things I'd suggest. You might have a look at the punctuation...the second stanza gave me pause...wasn't completely sure how to read it. Second, watch out for tense changes...first stanza...I read that as past tense but you've used present tense after the second line.

Thanx so much...bobc

[Luke L]

ya I definetly have problems with tense changes... I listened (and continue to listen) to a lot of rap for years and it's something that most rappers don't worry about, they vary tenses at will essentially so it's something I do as well, but I'll look at it for sure, thanks for the feedback man :)

[Azure Montessa (Blue)]

"He kept a level head
So when he got angry
It made an impact."

Level-headed people are the worst monsters when they're furious. :)

Anyway, it's a great thing that you were able to meet your grandpa and have such a deep bond. My grandfathers from both of my parents died when I was like four years old. I never had a clear memory of how it feels like to have a grandpa.

Your grandfather will be more than pleased to read this sweet poem of yours. :x

[Luke L]

thank you very much :)

[Plume de flamme]

You do such an excellent job telling real life stories in your poetry. You words choice is straightforward but carries tremendous weight.

[Luke L]

thank you very much, miss :)