by D. P. Johnson

Created on: February 19, 2009

Dear Grandpa,

Seventeen years, a journey

That has taken me down many roads

Leading me far from home.

So much has happened

Good times and hard.

I've not been good at writing.

I never really know what to say.

I don't mention it as often as I think it,

I miss you so much. It's hard to be away.

I've seen amazing places,

But I always hear the whispered song of your valley

Like the bright wind on scarlet leaves.

You taught me so much.

Between you and Dad,

I learned everything I know about being a man

Joy in a hard day's work,

Value in quiet strength,

Wisdom in well chosen words.

A man is the sum of his family,

I am grateful for your lessons.

With them I have built my soul.

I could never repay you for what you taught me.

As a boy I remember

Hours spent gathering sap and watching it

Boil away in the steamy sugar shed.

I felt great significance in this.

The work and the steam seemed an offering to God.

Once we went to the circus together.

The car broke down on the way home.

We had so much fun on the side of the road.

I remember that more than the circus.

There was also that time we went "bowling"

In your bedroom with oranges and grapefruit.

Grammy said we'd bruise them.

You told her it didn't matter

This was better than eating them.

One year on your birthday

I gave you a maple sapling

Planted in a milk filter box.

Together we planted it somewhere.

(I don't remember where.)

I wonder if it lived

I hope so.

It would be almost thirty years old by now,

Nearly ready to tap.

These pictures are burned into my soul.

If you were to look at my heart

You would see yourself there.

I love you.

Please get well

My son needs to learn how to be a man.

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