Marching Song

My grandfather is about to pass away. These are my better memories that I will want to keep.

When you cross the threshold to ether

I will not remember a cross, beligerant

Selfish, greedy, cold-hearted man I met

Since I have grown into adulthood

 

When you breathe your last breath

All of those things will go away and I

Will remember the grandpa who played

Dominoes and said, "Dirty Pool" when I

Won every hand (Did you let me? No!)

I will be sitting in the little nook drinking

Orange juice from those big old glasses

Playing that game that we kept running

For years on the same scoreboard

 

When you step into light, or the dark

I will hear the echoes of your laughter

The ballads of Nat Cole, The Ink Spots

Playing in the background of a sunny

Quiet afternoon on a walk around

The High School track with you

My stubby legs struggling to catch

The man I thought must be so wise

 

When I think of you down the road

I will be five again, or eight, and feel

Loved by my grouchy grandpa yet again

Will learn more Navy marching songs

(So you called them. Do Navymen march?)

"Hip-toe Hop-toe Ring Out the Mop-Toe

Left Oh Righ oh Left" your voice lulling me

"I Left my Wife and Forty Kids, I Left, I Left..."

You'll sing and march on without me

 

 

Author's Note

This piece is rather personal, so I probably won't change anything, unless there is a typo.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Don't change a thing, this is truly so deep and heartfelt it nearly brought a tear to my eye... as humans we are not perfect and i love how you expressed that you will hold onto those wonderful and positive things and let the errors of the past be just a fleeting light. Your poem was a wonderful tribute and I bow my head in a moment of silence.

[Lena M. P.]

Beautifully written. Touching and a wonderful tribute. Don't change a thing.

[Michael Carr]

a very powerful piece. emotional and true, very well written. the flow never faulters, mainly due in part to your amazing voice and imagery that helps carry this piece, and the reader, to its conclusion.
excellent work.

[Samuel Dickens]

Nah, you shouldn't. It's perfect. Yes, Navy men do march--I used to have the blisters to prove it. Ink Spots? "I don't want to set the world on fire..." That's a wonderful old song. Didn't he like "The Platters"? If I was your grandpa, I'd be pretty proud.

[C.T. Bailey]

Ah, Constance...I am sorry for the pain you feel. You have such grace. What a wonderful tribute to him. I hope that you will cross this bridge and continue on your path with joy and peace. Very nicely done,
Todd

[Emily Rose]

Strange how death changes the way we look at people we love, isn't it? I really like your comment on how, upon his death, your grandfather is no longer cast in such a negative light and you think about the more positive aspects of his life and his influence on you. I love the specificity of the imagery, too - you really let us know how close this piece, and your grandfather, is to you. Well done.