Opa

Backscratches at night, keep your nails a little long
Just for me
Tuck me in with a kiss, and
I love you,
Going to the lake
Show me that those prickly messy bushes
Are actually hiding blackberries
We can eat them
Don't worry about getting the ones too high
The birds love them, too
Those are for them
Find flowers by the railroad tracks
And take them home for our garden
Show me the beaver dam
Buy birdseed and show me how to feed the ducks
A long walk to see the horses
Tell me about how to be a good person
A strong person, who does good things
And makes the right choices
Making bows with sticks and strings
And stick arrows in the backyard
Find those perfect other sticks
And bend them, gently, with water in a jar
So that they hold their shape
And I can make that covered wagon for my project
Teach me care and love
Teach me respect and when I'm wrong
Show me things in nature
Point out little things that other people miss,
I see them, too.
Share culture and food
Stories and experience
Your wife does the cooking
You do the dishes
Come see my dance performances
Give me flowers
And I see the love and pride in your eyes
Share faith and the importance of gratitude
Gratefulness and understanding
Of everything we have,
We have a lot
And it's the people
The people that surround us
That makes every day
The best day ever
Two hands sharing a pocket
On a cold day without gloves
Listen to my stories and my thoughts
Explore
Go out every day in a different direction and just walk
Learn new streets and neighbourhoods
Say hello to anyone you meet
Take care of yourself because you can
For yourself, and the people you love
The other stuff's not worth losing time with them
Do what you love
And keep doing it
A hole-in-one just before you turn 90
The sense of rightness when everyone's there.
Make plans, but stuff happens
How true it is
You were supposed to make it to 100
At least
But that's us being selfish
You were ready and it was time
I miss you