Tears Of The Rose

the King, my Grandfather

Silver haired
Golden laugh
Hand upon a bronzed staff
Crooked yet stands so straight
So weathered yet so wise

What do I recall of him?
He the king and I a kid -
He who wields the ageless wisdom
I with childish innocence mocks
What care I of his gentle ways
His lashing tongue but kind-hearted soul
What care I of the benevolent sir;
Youth knows not of the wizened wise

And now the cries resound
Despairing aloud with trumpets' blare
Weeping, mourning, a sea of black
And in the centre lies king no more
Slain by death, flew away on light wings
His crown shattered upon his chest
Clothed in white, so serenely peaceful
As if a touch could jolt him awake
But alas he lies in land o' the dead
Never to awake again

What do I remember of him
Before the scattering of his ashes
Before he took his very last
Before the disease took root in him
When he was a mere grandfather to me?

Fare thee well king
Safe travels, tarry not
I only regret not knowing you better
When you were still living
When you were the king
And I was the kid
Yet we were a pair -
Grandchild, grandfather

* dedicated to my grandfather
May he rest in peace and slumber forever