For Papa

Intro: My grandfather recently passed away so I thought I wold put up what I read at his funeral. This poem was very hard to write (as was the letter). It took me a long time to figure out exactly what to say and how to best honor my grandfather. Finally, I figured out exactly what to say.

Papa,


I miss you so much. Though you were not someone who demanded attention or remembrance, you were not someone who ever went unnoticed. I will never forget all the lessons you taught me, all the jokes you told me and all the memories we shared. I will always remember your kind and generous nature.

Mark Twain once said, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” This quote sums you up- a man who lived life to the fullest, unafraid. You married an amazing woman, and with her raised three boys and then helped them raise their children, including me. Now I am in college hoping to pursue my own dreams, and hoping to follow your footsteps in American/Israeli advocacy. Papa, through your generosity and ambition, you lived fully.

 

Love, Rachel

 

The petal of a rose touches the floor

I suddenly find myself looking for more

A tick of a clock

I instantly find myself in shock

The ring of a bell

I just want to crawl back into my shell

The turn of a page

They say understanding comes with age

A flick of the lights

I start thinking about the sleepless nights

The sound of a step

There seems like hardly any time to prep

The tapping on a keyboard

I think about walks on the sea shore

The end of a book

There’s nowhere else to look

The cutting of a thread

Finally I realize he’s dead