Story Teller Memories Poem by John A'Hern

Grandfather, viewed through a child's eyes,
Approach a room the door always closed.
Sitting in the room in darkness
Except for dappled window light
A storyteller to delight.
A Grandfather sits in his favourite chair
Face lights up, knows who is there,
The child sits at Grandfathers feet.
Stories flow, no rhyme or reason
Life's lessons are played with words.
Listening to all that is being said,
Occasional pauses, laughter rings out.
Silence tells the child time to say cheerio,
A rub and a kiss on the head follows,
Close the door silently, memories locked away.
Most days this is repeated,
One day the door is locked, no answer within.
Father appears on the scene of door knocking child
Leads him away to explain the whys.
Grandfather passed during the night,
A tear appears glistening in the sunlight.
The child just listens, does not make sense,
Yesterday's stories still fresh in his head.
The sadness surrounds, adults gather,
Hugs and kisses filled with sorrow,
Words not heard by the child,
Burial being the last request.
In the days of speak when spoken to,
The child just watches all around them.
The house so quiet, Mother sits in the kitchen
The child dares to ask a question.