Random Crap

For Granted

This is a poem I had to write for English. We had to write a personal slam poem, so naturally this is quite a sensitive and personal topic, so no hate please. It's about my Nonna and Nonno. They're doing fine, don't worry! I hope you enjoy.

During Jr Primary, trips to my Nonna's were cherished.

We watched movies,

We played games,

And we ate endless amounts of snacks.

Every visit,

we walked to the Blockbuster, and I rented a Barbie movie.

I made it my mission to watch every Barbie movie.

We must've watched every one at least twice.

During Primary School, things changed.

I didn't stick around to talk.

I came over, grabbed a snack,

and retreated to the guest bedroom.

But if they asked me if I wanted to watch a movie,

I would always say yes.

It changed from Barbie movies, to Tangled.

We must have seen Flynn get hit with a frying pan over 50 times.

Now, during high school, things changed.

If they asked me to watch a movie, I started saying no,

stating that I had too much homework,

or that I promised my friends I'd talk to them after school.

At weekly dinners I rarely stayed at the dinner table.

After the first few courses, I'd go back to the guest room,

only emerging to do the quiz with the rest of the family.

We must have done it every week.

It took me until this Easter,

to realise how important spending time with them really is.

After my Nonna had a fall and the ambulance was called,

I took it as my job to protect the younger ones.

I watched helplessly as she got wheeled away,

Bound by constricting white sheets,

My heart sank to the depths of my body

My eyes stung like a thousand trapped bees

My body felt like jelly,

My brain thrashed against my skull, begging to break free.

Everything about me felt strange and foreign.

I felt lost.

What I realised is,

You never truly understand how important something is,

Until you almost lose it.

I must have taken them for granted hundreds of times.

So I'm making a vow.

I will treasure every moment I have with them.

Because, you never know how much time you've got,

until time runs out.

I'll rewatch every Barbie movie.

I'll rewatch Tangled again and again.

I'll do every single quiz.

Anything to get back the time that I've lost.

Starting now,

I will listen to every one of their stories,

No matter how many times they've been told.

I will answer questions with more than just one word.

I can't believe why it took me so long,

to realise that time is running out.

I can't believe nobody warned me

that one day, they'll be gone.

And when they're gone,

I'll be lost.

The sun stripped away from my sunset.

And I would've missed out on so much.

So many movies unwatched,

So many things unsaid.

And what use is it really,

Talking to them when they're already dead?