Hold On: A Poem for My Grandmother
Today would be my Grandmother’s 87th birthday.
She passed shortly before my 13th birthday and I remember that day like it was yesterday. I had such a close relationship with her, as did all of her grandchildren, that her loss still seems rather unreal.
Just thinking about the number of stories I could share about the times we spent together and things we did instantly puts a smile on my face but also makes me ache realizing that those days are over.
Even though it’s been almost 15 years since her passing I still have dreams that she’s alive and has been hiding from us. I don’t believe that dreams mean anything other than your mind wandering. But sometimes my dreams can feel so real that when I wake up it takes me a few seconds to realize it was just my mind drifting.
Since today is my Grandmother’s birthday, I thought I’d share a sonnet I originally wrote in my high school poetry class called “Hold On.” I originally wrote it on October 17, 2005 and later submitted it to my college’s literary magazine, “Creation Space,” where it was published in 2007.
Hold On
As the rain taps lightly against the ground,
A feeling of sadness comes about
For a child’s thoughts are to be found
Although the clue is but a pout
Lifted the child is into her wings,
The child’s head gently lying on her breast,
As she hears the lovely voice that begins to sing
Her eyes begin to close and come to rest
“Hold me tight child, for I will not let you go”
Her knuckles grasped so tight they are sore
And the dripping tears come to show
As the child continues to whimper ever more.
All eyes cannot rest,
For being alone is not a request.
