Ancient Libraries

Grandpa never went to school
but no one could dispute
the insurmountable wisdom
that had been stored up
in each of his grey hairs
I observed as educated uncles & aunts
sat at his feet
like pupils in a classroom
as they all drank from his fountain
of knowledge
One after the other
they presented their cases to him
after all,
nothing was too hard for him!
he seemed to have an answer
for everything!

I watched in amazement
as he solved their problems
as easily as a college professor
would solve a mathematical equation

Grandpa had the habit of speaking
in proverbs and riddles
which often left us perplexed
as we all scratched our heads
trying to unravel their meaning

Whenever we'd come to visit
he would eloquently remind
us of our family history
he would narrate the story of
where we came from
he presented our history so well
that one might have assumed
that they were attending a
seminar presentation
on human origins

We were all greatly touched
by his passing
because we shall never again
have the opportunity to learn
from what he had to teach us
so, I guess there is some truth
to the saying:
'WHEN AN OLD PERSON DIES,
IT'S A LIBRARY WHICH BURNS'