Papaw's Little Helper

A poem about a granddaughter and her Papaw who is very old and in his last days...

Papaw’s Little Helper

 

There was a time

it seems

when the sun was…

always shining,

when Papaw stood

proud, beside the garden hoe

humble in spirit,

tall in honest pride

of a hard day’s work.

 

She was just a wisp

back in those sunny days,

red hair falling out of place

blending with the red clay

smudged across a freckled nose,

when work was play…

where Papaw taught

life’s lessons in a garden.

 

Now it seems to rain…

not always, but more often

clouds of shadowed memories

broken by glimmers of sunlit recollections

years enjoyed watching her grow

laughing, silly girl grins

full of graceful joy

tending her gardens now

tending him…

 

Papaw’s little helper

legacy of faith and love

working hard and well with others

happy to be playful

practicing his lessons

learned in the bean rows and pumpkin patch

her life ~  an extension of his love,

her hand holding his

as he welcomes rest…

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

we hope we have learned the lessons well, once we understand that those parents and grandparents once so strong and seemingly invincible...are actually mortal.

[David Scott]

Thank you Jacob. I just saw a typo... I'll hv to unpublished till I can fix it.
Lessons are hard to learn and put into practice in a meaningful way. Extended family can help establish healthy patterns in children when parents are busy surviving...