Grandad

Grandad

Grandad how I miss you, ever since that day,
When you decided 'enoughs enough' and you went away.
I really wish you had waited, I needed to say goodbye,
But now whenever I think of you I'm no longer sad and cry.
Instead I sit and remember, all the special times we had
And to have had you in my life I am so very glad.
You made the world a brighter place, by simply being you,
You could bring a smile to my face, with the mad things that you'd
do.
I used to think that all I had left, was your old flat hat,
But now I know you've left me with something far more precious than
that.
You left me a lifetime of memories; you've left me with a glow,
You've left me knowing you will always be with me, wherever I should
go. 6-1 defeat, after the heat of the hamam, after a late breakfast of
bread, cheese, olives, and hot tea, he and the boys, scrubbed and
glowing, had trooped into the local mosque to give thanks and
pray.

"Not much to give thanks for this week," he had joked to Serhat. The
eleven-year-old had turned to him wide-eyed. "You don't understand,
teacher. We don't pray for the match. We pray for you. We thank Allah
for sending you to us. And we pray that you will never leave."