I've been thinking
of Grandad
More than usual
these days
(You might imagine)

These days
When I see my hand
clasping my daughter's
I see my Grandad's hand
Clasping mine
The day he went home
For the last time

Sitting across the table
One night in August
He seemed to know
something
I didn't

Now I know what it was

When I saw his photos
(pages of slides)
I was astonished
But I knew already
what I would find
I never asked
What they were
to him
But I saw the camera
Always in his hand

It was another
of those things
he turned to
That I turn to
When I push
the shutter
or the pedal

I'm grateful
He watched me
grow up
We saw each other
Young and old
One who'd made
mistakes
And one who will
Like his riders
The one's who'd
been down
The one's who're
going down
(As he used to say)

He sent me
a note
Not long before
he died
Offering an ear
When I was in a
rough patch

I'll say now
What I couldn't then

It isn't easy
I'm glad you're here
You've been there
That makes it
easier

I miss you