F. William Broome

ON NEVER KNOWING A GRANDFATHER

“We do not stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing!”
~ Benjamin Franklin ~

A lot of my friends had a grandpa back when
I began wondering why I’d been cheated
out of having a bearded old live-in Santa Claus
sitting around waiting for the elves to
make enough toys for the big sack by Christmas time.
I learn that grandfathers work and make things,
take their grandsons fishing and
teach them wood carving,
twisting further resentment that I didn’t have one.
My two grandfathers died before I was born,
creating a haunting void
in which I often ponder if my granddaddies
would have liked being with me, sharing boy things…
A forever-young grandfather is good for kids as
a pal who still wants to play,
and knows how to get away from the others.
Playing the loving role for years leaves me with doubt,
wondering if I’m measuring up to
these amazingly adaptable grandkids’ expectations.
However, I’m certain of only one thing in this;
I love it, and hope to go on to
become their genuine Centenarian Grandpappy.