To My Grandpa - R.I.P.

I will never eat wontons
The same way again
I used to just gulp them
But now they're my friend
Now when I have wontons
I’m reminded of you
And the time you made them for me
When I couldn’t chew
You never said ‘I love you’
But you showed it in your way
Like having me over for bangers and mash
And Junkyard Wars every Wednesday
I slept over more when I was little
And I’d insist on poking your nose
You’d stick your tongue out every time
Or so the story goes
You and Grandma used to take me to Playland
And once there was a purple stuffed lion
I wanted it so bad, you lost the game
Again and again and still you kept on buying
The guy finally let you have him
I loved him then and I still do
I was so proud you won him for me
I named him after you
When I was younger and slept over
I’d fall asleep in your waterbed
You’d carry me in and heave me on
In your arms I felt no dread
You taught me to pronounce the ‘th’ sound
A lesson I won’t soon forget
Your tool was mini teddy-bear cookies
You’d give me none ‘til the learning was set
You had some pretty crazy theories
You’d corner me in the dining room and preach
You told me things controversial to what I’d learned
It was a difficult gap to breach
I resented these sessions at the time
You’d listen to no other reason
But now I wish I’d written it all down
So I could study them another season
You had some strange ideas
Like trying to dye your hair blue
Getting your nose pierced and applying for a job
Is not what most retired men do
Sometimes you were hard to get along with
There were times I was scared to come near
Only now I wish I’d made more time for you
Maybe then you’d still be here
I wish I’d had more time with you
But I’ll remember the years we had
I’ll always be grateful you were there
To see me walk the stage at grad.