Gramps

In I fly from way up North

To a land with magnolias, jazz and warmth

Grama and Grampa meet me at the plane

I look for them through the windowpane

We climb into the old Mercedes

And stop at Piggly Wiggly along the way

Home at last to the big white house

Pillars on the porch, iron fence all about

We pull in the driveway with grass down the middle

Park under the carport, now we can settle

Mushroom fountain gurgles and flows all around

Coarse grass beneath my toes, lizards on the ground

Into the kitchen and down the long hall

To where I will sleep with books on the wall

Across the way, Grampas library and desk

Spanish, French, Portuguese and all the rest

Books, photos, writings wherever you look

With a ladder Grampa helps me find a good book

Then out to the yard in the warmth and the sun

Smells, birds, and sounds make the outing fun

Gramps shows me his darkroom where photos are made

Black and white is the specialty for him today

Plants that are new to me, flowers with bees

I sit in a chair and absorb what I see

Grama makes dinner while I watch from a stool

Celery, shrimp and spices for Creole

It’s a recipe that to this day I still know

Then it’s off to bed with books for us all

I can’t sleep the first night, new place, shadows on the wall

Down the hall I go for a drink

Something follows beside me; I’m too scared to think

I look to see who it could be

A huge bug, I freak, he’s after me!

I make it to the living room, jump to a chair

Use a book to smush him, hope it’s not still there

Morning comes soon and we gather to eat

Half a grapefruit, toast, coffee and chicory at my seat

Then we’re off to Audubon Park for the zoo

Visit the animals and the people too

This is a small slice of my memories from then

There is so much more, but I would need a new pen

Now, dear Grampa, you have a new life

Living more North, new house and wife

Today is your 90th year on this earth

You’ve traveled, taught and written since birth

You studied languages, photography and more

Your life is full of good friends and family galore

So on this day what I want to say

Is you’ve been a big part of who I’ve become today

I’ve seen other worlds, been exposed to the arts

And so much more that’s become a large part, of me

So raise your glasses to my Gramps with cheer

Toast and celebrate this momentous year

And I want to be sure that you hear it very clear

I love you very much on this, your 90th year

90th Birthday Celebration for William J. Smither

My Gramps