He looked fine, and he would live forever.

At least I thought.

 

His beard was white as snow, his eyes outlined with blue, but center brown.

His struggle to get up from sitting down.

His slow stride of walking around.

Yet he never wore a frown.

 

Quick to smile and tell a joke. Laugh louder than a frog's croack.

Oh, and he could talk all day long -- talk you til' your misery is gone.

He'd lay there in that bed. Nicely tucked, pillow under head.

I'd tell him, "Call me if you need me. I'll be in the den." 

And you bet after a couple of minutes I'd be seeing his brown face again.

 

I'd comb his beard and scratch his back.

Listen to his stories as we snack.

There was never a dull moment with this old man. 

 

But then one day, I knew things got worse.

His words grew smaller. His prescense dispersed.

He looked out into the distance as quiet as the night.

Things were hurting me, but I would be alright.

 

He left that night, without a farewell.

I tried to call, but all I could hear was an inhale and an exhale.

 

So even though I am saddened by your absence today,

The thought of you makes the pain go away.

 

Memories of you keep me happy because when I needed you, you were there.

You never left me, but to Heaven you had to climb the stairs.

So old man, I must say, I know you're gone

But it was you who always helped me find my way back home.

 

When I'm down, I think of you and wear a smile.

I know that I'll be seeing you in a while.