Dear Granddad ... written for him in 2005

Dear GranddadGranddad you have been my hero every since I was small,
Granddad you are still my hero, that hasn’t changed at all.
You will always be my hero no matter where you are,
I just wish we were closer cause it’s hard being so far.

I wish that you were here right now so we could feed the ducks,
Maybe walk the beach one day or look in picture books.
How I long to smell and taste your sweet, warm current bread,
One thing that I really loved was by your food be fed.
I enjoyed every meal you made for us because they were delicious,
You covered for me when I was wrong and my parents were suspicious.
When ever I did something bad, you’d smile at me and say,
“I won’t tell if you don’t, so now, go on and play.”

All the things you’ve done for me, I will repay to you,
When you need a hand, give me a shout and tell me what to do.
Going to mass each week with you was my favourite thing,
Sundays now, I think of you when I go to church and sing.
Every Sunday after mass, you would buy me sweets,
You spoiled me with the love you gave and all the sugar treats.
I remember all the words of wisdom you passed down to me,
I put them right where they belong, in my wisdom tree (my soul).

How I long to hear your voice and see your warming smile,
I just wish I could see you, as I haven’t in a while.
You have been there everyday of my 18 years on earth,
You’ve been watching, caring, loving me ever since my birth.

I think of all our time together, happy times we shared,
Best of all, you comforted me when I was sad or scared.
I remember you would hold my hand as we walked the park,
We were inseparable, did everything together, from morning until dark.

Do you remember granddad, all the blackberries we’d eat?
Walking up the Navvy Hill on my little feet.
One thing we did every day, was watch the train go past,
We’d stand up on the Navvy Hill and hear that whistle blast.

It’s always so magical whenever you are around,
We could sit together for hours without making a sound.
I remember at all those weddings when we’d dance together,
How I think back now and wish that it could last forever.

Look outside and you will see the sky that is so blue,
The size of that sky measures just how much that I love you.
One last favour we all ask of you is
To please tell Granny how much we love her too.