A tribute to my beloved Poppa

On 16^th September, 2012 – I lost a man I love so much.  My grandfather, whom we affectionately call Poppa.  He slipped away peacefully in his sleep.  He was a happy man right up to the very end.

I am doing an ugly cry as I write this up. 

This was a man who used to come over every Saturday, allow me to sit on his lap and play with his hair, put ribbons in his hair.

He instilled the love of reading in me, giving me books – whenever there was a birthday, my grandparents would give everyone a book and I used to gather them all up and read them all on that day.

He wrote poetry.  He wrote poems about me. 

My Legend

She’s just a girl of tender years

But she has lost so much

For she hears nothing with her ears

No music, speech or such

But through all this there’s no complaint

For things she has not

She buckles down and makes the most

Of things that she has got

She goes to school in Christchurch

It is a hearing school

She learns her lessons wonderfully

Lip-reading as her tool

She skis, she also fences

And I am bound to say

She portrayed a schoolgirl

In a TV play

This girl who is of tender years

She’s a legend of the future.

Not even handicapped

You should see my young granddaughter

She’s the sweetest girl around

She’s pretty, bright, intelligent

Though she never hears a sound

From birth she’s never heard the things

That we can all enjoy

Like when birds arise at dawning

Or the tinkling of a toy

She’s never heard the love produced

Within her mother’s voice

She’s never heard her brothers laugh

Or hears her friends rejoice

She never hears a Christmas carol

Or a toy unwrapped

Though in view of social welfare

She’s not even handicapped

And now there comes upon the scene

Another hearing aid

But this one gives some promise

It’s the best so far they’ve made

But it costs a thousand dollars

It’s quite pricey, but she’s rapt

We ask help from social welfare

She’s not even handicapped

Now do not get me wrong in this

She’ll get the aid, you’ll see

It’s just the thing I’m pointing out

It’s the anomaly

That while children suffer deafness

A hard life is theirs to start

And it goes to prove the saying

Officialdom has no heart

Now I think I’ll close this letter

With a thought for you to bear

Of children with no hearing

And departments that don’t care

Kids are at a disadvantage

And in this you need not scoff

They are in a poor position

To rip the system off

So when you listen to a song

Or hear the singer clapped

Give no thought to those deaf people

They’re not even handicapped.

I found a lot of letters that he had written to me.  He tells of the two biggest loves of his life – his grandfather and his dog, Sally.  He recounted when he used to be out all day from sun up to sun down hanging out with Sally, catching rabbits. 

Sally

The hand of time taps upon the consciousness

Of love once given and returned

Once killed by thoughtless youthfulness

The bane of youth and by moment, spurned

Those days were travelled far and wide

Where footloose heaven told of swathe well run

And threw ourselves panting, limbs flung wide

To catch our breath gasping in the sun

But later, older in my early youth

I moved, alone, upon another path

Leaving my home with conscience loose

And left my friend for seaboard craft

And so I left my friend, I’d grown away

To lose her life because I was not there

My friend, my love companion of another day

Put down, to die because of lacking care.

So conscience sword is sharp, comforts foe

To think of Sally, canine friend

Though it was sixty years ago

Thoughts still intrude of stupid end.

Poppa – I know Sally was waiting for you with your Grandfather.  I know there was a happy reunion.

His letters made me smile when I needed it.  Here is another poem he wrote just for me as he was writing the letter:

Tensile strength

From us out here

To you out there

I bring you love

Express my care

For there’s no doubt

I know, you see

That you are one small part of me

But you are far

Though have no fear

A tenuous thread

Will hold you near

A fragile thing

That for your sake

Stretches forever

But will not break

So close your eyes

And feel that tug

You’ll feel my arms

About you hug

And one day soon

Soon, you will see

That thread will pull you back to me.

I still feel that tug.  And that tug will bring me back him wherever he is now.

He always ended his letters with a lot of kisses.  I miss those kisses already.

The letters were written to me after he hadn’t written to anyone for about 50 years, and so I feel very privileged to have him write to me and pour his love to me.

Heart’s glow

With lowered lip and heavy heart

Its seems that all the worlds apart

With slanted look and throbbing head

It is as if the world were dead

Then beam of light not quite a glow

Makes optimism start to flow

Brings strengths return and you will see

It emanates from family

The light gets stronger all around

Where once it was that nature frowned

And you find family is there

To give you strength so you can bear

So your decisions fine by us

Though covered with prevailing fuss

For we are here and we believe

In you my girl so just receive

Our love, our hugs though you are far

For in our heaven, you’re our star.

He had the best sense of humour.  Always had a twinkle in his eye.  Always full of love for his family – where we always lined up to give him a kiss and a cuddle. 

I am very privileged and honoured to have such a special man in my life for as long as I have.  Those memories will always be cherished. 

I love you Poppa, and I always will.  I will see you someday soon and I expect the biggest hug from you.

Looking out to evenings twining cool

The softness filled with birds at roost

Takes my thoughts to far flung shores

Where thoughts of you gives love a boost

                                                                Unfinished and likely to stay so.

Poppa on Christmas Day, 2010.  I laughed and laughed and laughed when I saw him come in the room looking like that.  

Poppa and Granny on 25 August, 2012.  He was dressed up as a sailor and Granny was dressed up as a herbalist for my niece's birthday party.