My Grandfather Poem by iris swanberg

i am close to everyone on my mom's side of my family,
but especially with my grandfather.
he is funny
and sensitive
and kind
he shows me he loves me in lots of ways
he polishes my leather shoes
he makes me dinner
he packs my lunch
he gets up early to say goodbye before i go to school
and he tells stories and jokes, which my grandmother says he does more when i'm there.
in return,
i laugh at his jokes
i buy him books with my 25% discount
i listen to his stories and his music
i visit him, without fail, at least twice a week
and i watch jeopardy with him.
he is the one i want to walk me down the aisle.
we used to take the 10: 00 train to elmhurst,
about 30 minutes away
and we'd go to the rainbow pancake house,
which had mickey mouse pancakes
and a magic gumball machine.
when i was little, we had a schedule.
my uncle picked me up on mondays
then my mom on tuesdays
my grandmother on wednesdays
my grandfather on thursdays
and my aunt on fridays.
eventually, it was just my grandfather on tuesdays and thursdays
and my grandmother on wednesdays, when i'd stay overnight.
now, i spend sunday nights with both of them.
i've always loved being there.