Oscar

I thank the heavens for this darling boy 
who's given my life new purpose, joy. 
This little scrap of humanity, who sits 
on my knee and expounds my vanity 
and completely disarms me with his 
'Hello, granddad' and infuriates when 
he misbehaves then saves himself with 
a smile and a hug and I give a shrug 
and beckon him near, this grandson 
so dear, who melts my heart and leaves 
a gap when we are apart. Who angers 
and pleases in equal measure yet gives 
my memory so much to treasure. Our 
knowing looks, the story books, the 
afternoon naps, the selfie snaps. 
The rough and tumble when you don't 
really want to, but you oblige for the smiles 
and the giggles and then you collapse in 
a heap of wriggles and try to be straight - 
laced whilst he probes your face to see how 
your eye works and plays with your lip 
then, off he'll skip on some other ploy 
and ask you to play with some other toy 
or else bombard you with imaginary snowballs, 
until, tuckered out, sleep finally calls and he kisses 
goodnight and lazily crawls into the land of dreams 
and childhood schemes and I'm left, bereft, aching 
and sore and anticipating more in the dawns early light.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2020

Poem

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Be the first to comment on this poem. Encourage this poet.

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace