Dear Grandpa,

Living in silence

Hearing clocks ticking

Listening to the air vents hissing

Watching the days roll by

 

What do you imagine

sitting and watching

a life full of laughter

passing you by?

 

Do you see pictures in your mind?

of road trips and fishing

casting out your line

hearing the reel hissing

being blessed for all these times

and being proud to live this amazing life

 

Laughing with old friends

remembering that life ends

as you watch people leave you

from house to soiled ground and grave

picturing what they would say

if you weren't paying your respects today

 

But while their gone you are still breathing

living a life of vitals and eating

spending time in hospitals not relaxing or sleeping

but rather feeling alone, tired, and queezy

 

watching the big game on your tv screen

hearing your wife and the words running out like a machine

as you ask why you are still here on this earth

for what purpose other than to grow up from birth

living a life for some unattainable worth

 

Yet someday so soon will be your last

as you watch your last show

and sit all relaxed

closing your eyes you will meet what is the unknown

to uncover the mysteries that we still don't know

 

But for me on this earth

I will cry and feel sad

because the man I saw as my grandfather

will only be seen from a newspaper ad

wishing that life never ended this way

there is more that I wish you could say

 

So don't wish for that time to come so soon

when we stand by your tombstone

and sing those sad hymnal tunes

wiping the tears that stream down our faces

remembering the memories and trips to exotic places

as I stand and say to the people in the crowd,

"This man I loved was someone I know loved me back and for that I am proud."