This Christmas

He went on and on about his childhood

About how he walked miles to school barefoot in snow

Oh how we chuckled to his many stories

Grandpa spoke about where he and grandma first met

He rambled about life

And how the news was so important to watch

How saving money was mandatory

And material things wasn’t

I remember the smell of his homemade biscuits

baking in the morning

Long before the rooster crowed

He attended his garden faithfully as if resting was a sin

Grandpa’s words were heard miles away

Even if he spoke in silence

As a child he didn’t have presents for Christmas

So he explained that we should be thankful

Even if nothing was wrapped with a bow and given as a gift

I remember as he sat in his recliner

And his gray hair shimmered under the lights

And how all of us kids would laugh when he and grandma argued

This year will be different

Now it’s our time to reminiscence about him

He has decided to finally rest

Because Grandpa won’t be here this Christmas

                         

                                           -LaToya Martin