grandfather

my mother's father died today
my grandfather officially
in truth and fact
that's what he was to me

a man i met perhaps five times
yet never really knew
no blame to place
this absence accidental
we did the best we knew

grandfather
a lofty name
men filled with the wisdom of age
who share of themselves
to make a future better
than the time from which they came

my mother's father died today
my grandfather yet to be
perhaps he will look down
and share his wisdom
in the whispering of the trees