My husband didn't have to do it,
But he saw my pain-filled eyes.
He knew how much it meant
To be at my uncle's side.
He set in his mind his price
And thoroughly cleaned his truck,
And once we had directions,
I packed and wished him luck.
He paid 8000 dollars not so long ago
For this that was so precious
He would now let go so low.
They only gave him 3000,
And I'm sure if he could, he'd cry.
Because in the end, no one said thanks;
No one understood his sacrifice.
Because why would one be so stupid
As to put a vehicle up for sale?
Just to attend a funeral
When we could just send mail?
That was their thought I suppose,
My wicked family and friends
Who must have missed my tears
And thought we had no sense.
Author notes
When my grandfather passed this past July, my husband sold his truck so that we would have enough money to fly down to be with my family. His sacrifice, to me, is just unimaginable.. that he would do something just for me. With the exception of my uncle, my family thought we were crazy to do something so 'stupid' and that we should have never come. As you can tell, I don't have the best of relationships with most everyone in my family. But, my grandfather was an amazing man, and I would have given anything to honor him on his day.
Thank you, my Poh Poh. I love you.
Written December 12th, 2005
What did you think
Comments
1 - 10 of 10
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Well, that is better. I still feel that it isn't clear in the poem who is dead (as written now, it could be your uncle). So that relationship seems to be missing from the poem, and I think that understanding would be crucial to an understanding of the poem.
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You bring up an excellent point. Yes, I was there to honor my grandfather above all. And out of all my family, I'm also very close to his son, my uncle. I will re-work those lines so that it makes more sense.
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Beautiful. A very thoughtful, and timely instance of giving, which is certainly of an untypical sort compared to the preponderance of thoughtless giving that takes place around the holidays. That's what I love about this contest's entries. So many of them are like this, delving into what is more valuable than a strictly material gift - that human touch that should be emphasized at the holidays.
One thing that didn't entirely make sense to me was where, in lines 3 and 4, you said 'He knew how much it meant to be at my family's side.' But in your author's notes, and also in the last 8 lines or so, you've stated that your relationship with your family really isn't so great. What you really wanted was to see your grandpa one last time, and to honor him by showing up at his funeral... So that bit in lines 3 and 4 doesn't quite make sense in this light. It wasn't that it meant so much to be by your family's side, but that it meant so much to see your grandpa, and be present for his funeral, to honor him. I think perhaps you should look into that...
Thanks for entering our contest.
Mike -
It's just so tender and sweet what your husband has done for you, but what an awful feedback you got from your family
There are things that can be replaced to say it in quite a 'cruel' way, like this truck, but you can't just go two times to the funeral of a man you love so dearly. I mean, we can buy thousands of cars if we really want to (in a way of speaking) but funerals are only one time, one chance to honor someone that stood very close to you...
Beautifully and heartfelt this is...
Leander -
Thank you for your evaluation. I'm not sure how I could change it to indicate that it was my husband without ruining the piece. Do you have any suggestions?
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Personal poem of strength
You have written a touching poem for me, once I had read your comments. I do not know how the poem would stand alone without them. Would they guess 'he' is your husband? I have mixed feelings. But, I engaged with the poem and that is a good sign. Lyndon Wise. -
I'm not surprised at all that your Poh Poh would do something like this for you.I dare say, from the regard you have showed for him in your writing here, that he would do it for any good friend in need.
So sorry about your Grand-Pa. Mine passed away when he was 33 years old, so I never got to know him.
This was just really nice of you to do for your Poh Poh. Tell him I think he's one helluva of a man!
Regards..................John -
I like this poem alot. Because it'a about me, but I would like it better if you sent it to your family. This way they would see how much I love, and that I am not an asshloe all the time.
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Nice one!!
This was very very very deep and emotional... I really liked it. Well done and good luck in the contest. -
Your husband is a great guy...I don't think it was "stupid" at all...I know what it means to be with family and be at the funeral I missed my aunt's but I was going to be at my grandma's come hell or high water...I had a great bond with her that wasn't broken in death...of course there is some I couldn't attend...I went to see my great grandma at the funeral home but I couldn't go to actual funeral. I kind of wish I could have been at the funeral home when my Aunt died cause my mom was there and she said that when my aunts husband(?) bent down to kiss her the lights on either end of the casket blew out...I thought that would have been cool to see...except with it being a sad time I don't know if I would have thought that at the time.
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