Grandparents’ Day in Australia is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of October. The day honours the vital care, support, and wisdom older generations give to their families and communities. Here is a poem written by the son of frequent contributor, Don Mathis.

Grandparents’ Poem – by Charlie Mathis

Bernadine Mathis and General Gillespie (Grandma and Grandpa G) in 1999.

As the sun sets in Owasso,
the geese fly overhead,
quacking for our arrival.
Grandpa G is lying back
in his easy chair.
Grandma is getting ready
for the ten o’clock news.
The nurses are coming
down the hall.
They are coming in, saying,
“How are you doing, G?”
And they say,
“Do you want orange juice or water?”
He says, “Orange juice.”
We are talking to Grandma.
She is talking on the phone
to one of my dad’s brothers.
The ten o’clock news comes on.
My dad is making the bed.
Grandpa G is talking about the news.
We give them kisses and hugs
and tell them, “Good Night!”
We close our eyes and dream
of the very next day.

___

Image courtesy of Pexels.