I remember the old tree house,
And how cool I felt climbing inside.
I remember the two doves,
Always perched on a branch just outside.

I remember walking with my sister,
Through the fields for hours.
Through rows of beans and corn,
And all the sunflowers.

I remember the tractor,
And riding on your lap.
I remember George,
Your old black lab.

I remember the time we got ticks,
Dad tried to burn mine off with a match.
I didn't even know it was on me,
Till later when I went for a bath.

I remember the one on George,
It was massive and grey.
To have gotten so big,
You said it must've sat for a day.

I remember when I was older,
And it was hard on your bones.
You sold the old farm,
And moved into a one story home.

After that I didn't see you,
For such a long time.
I think at least ten years,
Or more had gone by.

I got a message from dad,
What a surprise.
He had messaged to tell me,
You were going to die.

You were so close to death,
It seemed you were asleep.
You had laid in your bed for days,
Unable to speak.

And when I walked in that room,
You looked so pale and so thin.
Your veins looked just like,
Grey spiderwebs under your skin.

I leaned over to hug you,
Tears rolling down my face.
"I'm so sorry grandpa, I love you."
Was the only thing I could say.

And within seconds,
Your heart monitor went silent.
Your heart stopped beating,
And the movement ceased in your eyelids.

Grandma looked at me and said,
"He was waiting for you."
I broke down and cried,
Because that's all I could do.

"How could I leave you like that?"
Was all I could think the rest of the day.
I made you wait for me,
In such a horrible way.

It consumed my thoughts,
And riddled me with shame.
As I lay in my bed,
Trying to drift away.

When I dreamed that night,
I dreamt of a road.
And standing at the end,
Was you, lo and behold.

But you looked much younger,
So I walked quicker and more bold.
I ran up to you and, yes!
You didn't look old.

You stood in front of two homes,
I'd never seen before.
And between these two homes,
A staircase that ascended evermore.

You leaned down and hugged me,
Telling me it was ok.
Then placed your foot on a step,
And suddenly I was awake.

I awoke knowing you were gone,
And you were never coming back.
But the memory of you,
Has always kept me on track.

It's been so many years,
But I think of you from time to time.
I remember the house, the tractor,
The fields and wind chimes.

But most of all I remember the dream,
And how you told me it's ok.
And how I know you're in Heaven,
Still waiting to this day.

© Robert Young