My Old Grandmother

My old Grandmother,
When death loomed above her,
Accepted with great dignity
That what would be, would be.
My old Grandfather,
Empty house, full larder,
Heart ravaged, but free,
Played with my cousin on his knee.
My old Dad,
Took the news pretty bad,
For a while, acted odd,
But I think he’s forgiven God.
My old Mum,
Said she felt numb,
Called the solicitor on the phone,
Her face was like stone.
My little brother
Did that day discover,
What it was to hold a hand
Not long for this land.
Dad’s brothers and sisters,
Oh, how they missed her,
Never had they read this sad tome;
An ever-present mother going home.
And I, that day,
As she floated away,
Wondered how I’d begin the grieving;
Just like everyone else,
I wasn’t ready for her leaving.