Family Doesn't Always Know Blood

Once so full of energy
Without self discipline to guide it

Now so full of wisdom

Without energy to enact it

I can tell he’s losing energy now

He won’t stay awake much longer

And though it’s hard to watch him like this

Pale, thin, shaking

Had I not come to say goodbye

The regret would have been far worse

The days back then were simpler,

It would seem

Coffee, ice cream Go fish, slap jack, and caffeine

Be back tomorrow!

My nine year old self promises

You know where I’ll be

That booming voice you can’t outgrow

Sunshine, snow, rainy days

The Escalante Corner Mart

The building, since long gone

but the childhoods live on

I follow the hospice nurse

Down the hallway, and up to room 8

He’s in there, he’s just awoke

Now you go on in, you’re not too late

It’s me: Ash; I’m here, Dennis

I’ve brought you a new coffee cup

and It’s got a photo of home on it

You do still drink coffee, right?

He can barely lift his own head

From the time you weren’t tall enough to see over the counter

You always kept your promises.

If you said you’d come back tomorrow

then tomorrow there you’d be

So when you said you’d visit me here

I knew that one day in that doorway

You’d surely just appear

hell yes I still drink coffee,

Now bring it here, bring it here

The relic’s worn so thin now

Fragile, weak Paraplegic

So many more wrinkles than before

My only regret in this life was that I never had children

Then he said again, what he’s said all along

But you, you were the daughter I never had

thank you for the father’s day card, it really made my day

His sweet memory’s fading
It was a phone call, he fell asleep midway

Our final embrace, he began to weep

No family members, relatives by his side

I’m sure their wounds run too deep

And they’ve known too many of his demons

But not me.

All I’ve known is Go fish, Ice Cream and an Unlikely Friendship

In this family not forged in blood.

In loving memory of my Godfather Dennis Bierhause
Gone but never forgotten

Reviews

[Gee]

That is also so ,so sad, but beautiful at the same time. I'm so sorry for your loss

[Comewhatevermay]

"Our final embrace, he began to weep
No family members, relatives by his side
I’m sure their wounds run too deep
And they’ve known too many of his demons

But not me.
All I’ve known is Go fish, Ice Cream and an Unlikely Friendship
In this family not forged in blood."

Such a touching tribute. I'm so glad that he was able to be that for you. Beautifully written. Welcome to Writer's Cafe.