I don’t

A poem about a (grand)child

When I stood by the casket

and you stared back at me, my face

almost as pale as yours

Because I had only seen eleven springs

Apparently the universe had allowed

just eleven springs of you in my life

At the funeral, I smiled a little more politely

at my relatives, and unknown acquaintances 

I sat with my back up straight

in shock of you, my sweet oma

with a yellow hue

underneath your doll-like skin

I complimented my aunt

ate slowly and neatly 

Just hovering over that box had transferred your age to me

Because children have grandparents 

and I don’t

Author's Note

I just want a grandma to bake cookies with, and a grandpa who will read the newspaper while I tell him about my day, and a house to escape to when my parents’ house gets too much, and I want grandparents who tell me about the old days, and whose love for each other will be my example of how to adore. I want grandparents just like my friends.

Thank you for reading <3 Light

Reviews

[Ken e Bujold]

Very touching, sensitive and full of the joy of love
well done light

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

A very emotional and powerful piece of poetry. I could literally feel the sadness in each line and the yearning for the kind of love that is missing and not there. I was lucky enough to grow up with my grandmother in my life. Especially at an age where I needed that kind of love the most. She was more a mother to me than my mom was. It is because of her I write because she would always share stories with me as I grew up. She was such a great storyteller, and even years later after she died my grandmother still inspires me in my art. She also loved to cook and sing. I'm so very sorry you don't have that in your life. You are a wonderful writer and I hope you continue to write and share your art with the world.

[Light]

Thank you so much for this review. I’m glad there are people who can have that grandmotherly love as a child, even if it’s not me, and I love that your grandmother was so close to the arts. I think it’s important to have someone who teaches you to love the beauty of creating, and she seems to have done that very well. I try to keep my grandma alive everyday with my few memories of her :)