I wish i was as great as you

A simple man with no story to tell
he thinks his life is as plain as the mail
plain and simple
comes and goes
but there is a story there that no one knows
a child born in poverty
a farmers son
working hard in the fields
quiting school at only 13
entering this world a teenager in life
working all day for money
working all night for life
a hard headed son of a gun
known as
grandpa
husband
father
and
son
a red white and blue American
he served in the war
a mechanic of sorts
putting up his life
for every other man
hearing the bullets singing past your head
a boom to the right
seeing your friends all dead
the dust a battle to you eyes and nose
weather so hot
your skin and bones
he wasn't there to pray for the dead
but when a truck or tank went down
it was in his hands
pass all the fighting
ducking out of sight
a toe truck and lift
is all he was given to fight
dodging the bullets and bombs
swerving around the mines
back to the shop
to take the dead off your mind
wash the vehicle off
from the
dust
blood
and gore
sometimes you don't want to open the door
fixing the machine
its ready to go
full of new faces
to replace the old
than a letter from far far away
its time to go home
first night back
a party occurs
driving drunk you began to swerve
hitting the ditch
the hospital you go
hiding from the doctors
you don't want them to know
you say you don't need a doctor
your fear they already know
you hide under a bed of this one particular girl
little did you she would give you 4 of your own
3 girls
1 boy
the years moved on
you lived and loved life
working hard every day
till the day you died
teaching me all i know
from gardens to cars
showing me your tattoo scar
you seemed so strong
when your wifed passed away
I wouldn't know if i could survive that day
i know you felt the same
but your old school
you were giving the impressions
that there were no emotions stored
only once did i see a tear in your eye
that was the day i almost died
you didn't get to see me graduate school
you wont get to see your great grand children drool
i know you here for me
when i need to be strong
even though the cancer is why you are gone
I say i love you Grandpa
i know you wont say it
yet i know you feel the same
by only the look in your eyes is the only way
i need to see
to know the truth
i wish one day
i could be great
as great as you



*for my grandpa George A. Shaw*