My Grandfather's Hands
My Gramps' hands
They held me tight
The day that I was born
I'm told he sang a lullaby and drew me close and warm
Picking fruit in the back garden
And bike rides 'round the block
His hands would clean a scrape or cut
Soothe when I took a knock
When my plaster cast came off
His hands stretched out to steady
He said, "Move forward slowly girl, step when you are ready..."
Gramps' hands provided
A light mid-afternoon snack:
Half a dumpie guava juice
And Flanagans crisps - green pack
To keep school extra-mural dates
He'd help pick up the pace
He'd call me Desperado and carry my violin case
Gramps' hands would give me
A sturdy birthday shake
He'd say, "Another year older...Now behave for heaven's sake!"
And as I walked the aisle that day
And his hand just brushed past mine
I had no doubt of his love for us
As sure as the sun would shine!
And when he took our baby girl
So gently in his care
My heart was filled with joy and thanks
That in her life he'd share
And then last week my Gramps' hands suddenly went still
They were placed across his chest
Pale, with a chill
Of this I'm sure, his hands, I know
Won't always be this way
Those gentle hands - so tan and strong
Will live again one day.
Scrolling through some photos this afternoon, I came across one of our friend Tarrin-Rae and her new baby girl, Isla, born last Thursday 31 October 2013. Isla Grace Graham I struggled to contain my own emotions as I observed this special moment in Tarrin's life (and new Isla's too) and thought back to my own experiences. I immediately asked Tarrin if I may use this to share a bit more of what I some times feel as a Mom... At first glance, I see relief . She's finally here! We can see her face in real life and we can say out loud "I am a Mommy!" Like my own kids, Isla was in no hurry to be born and labour was induced. What's worse than having to wait 40 weeks to meet your newest family member?? Having to wait longer still! I must confess, that this feeling was mixed with a fair dose of disbelief on my part too - when I sat quietly resting between visitors and feeds, I had to pinch my literal self and realise - the baby was here. Then I see comfort ....
Beautiful! You know just how to put the words together.
ReplyDeleteAh man, I wanted to put your poem on my blog! :)
ReplyDeleteThis truly represents 'la vida de Sakkie comos los vemos'. Thanks Ash. There are tears: but they're smiley tears because this is gramps as we remember him. Thanks.
ReplyDelete