*Written when I was 10 and dedicated to my pop-pop who I lost to cancer.  

When I think of my pop pop, I think of the beach,

The smell of the sand and the salt in the breeze.

Digging for sand crabs down by the sea,

The sound of the seagulls calling to me.

Down by the ocean on a very hot day,

He would take me into the ocean to play.

When I was afraid of creatures in the sea,

My pop pop was always there protecting me.

With the wind in our hair and the sand in our toes,

What we would do next, anthing goes!

I'll remember the trips to the boardwalk,

The rides, the treats, and all the long talks.

Smiling and laughing 'til the day was done,

my pop pop and I having fun in the sun.