Did they tear you
trembling from the only home
you’d ever known did she hold you
tight against her heart hoping without
hope that she would one day hold you
again was your father stern clearing
his throat as he told you to be brave
be a man learn quickly to be
someone else were their sisters
brothers a grandfather whose eyes
could not hold yours as you moved
towards the door as you moved
away out of the only life you
had ever known did you leaving pride
like dust on the floor weep
Grandpa Joe
I read it in your eyes as I sat in your lap and you
secretly slipped a candy bar out of your breast pocket
into my waiting hand I felt it in the way you held
my hand so tightly that it hurt afraid to let go
again of the things you loved you stumbled
over words your accent like a piece
of the past and yet for all the sorrow
there was joy there was thankfulness for this
new land this place America you stood
straight as you could when they played the National Anthem
at Yankee Stadium you held your hand hard
over your heart as though needing
to show yourself
and the world around you what this land
this place this new home meant to you you cried
for the past but loved with a stern silence
this place where dreams could be dreamed
and hope happened
Grandpa Joe I loved you so an old
man with a huge heart and a hug so hard
so tight it hurt happily I moved into your arms
feeling more a part of you than myself
How happy you would be to see the family tree
grown wide with branches spreading out
like fingers digging in
to fertile soil
my son my daughter seven grandchildren
growing grown lives happening because
of you because you came flung like a leaf
from a dying tree to live to love to raise
a safe free grateful family
– Susan A. Katz 6/25/2022 (All rights reserved)