Granny has been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. She is 92 so it’s just a matter of making her comfortable. And it’s a bit like when Ol’ Queen Lizzie died…you know she’s going to die but it was still a shock when it happened. And just like old queenie, you think your grandparents will be around forever but they’re not. This poem is for you Porpor which is Cantonese for grandma.

*

You gave us red envelopes when we were young

Full of money for sweets

Or the latest nintendo ds game

You would say

Now they’re full of regrets

False memories

What ifs

What could have beens

I remember your restaurants

Dragons and china red

The five spice is

Only an echo now

Your garden was my

Personal playground

Fantasy land

Kingdoms and battles, I would always win

Now the fantasy is wishing

I had got to know you better

You don’t know what you have

Until it’s gone. Cliche but true

The tide is taking you away

I”m anchored down

I reach out

Your fingers slip through mine

Yes I spent

1, or five or ten childhood summers

in Blackpool more than I would have liked

I will never get that time back

Nor my time with you

Goodbye