A Poem by Kate LaDew

grandfather

when no one and nothing paid attention to me
when I was a little girl drawing in a corner alone
watching adults do important things
live the life they really wanted
and forget for awhile what I took from them,
the right to be careless, the right to be young
you crossed your legs beside me
drew dragons and butterflies
taught me how to write my name
spoke to me and looked in my eyes
and that was enough for me to love you forever
and even though you’re gone
and my father keeps your photographs in boxes
forgets for awhile you were there when he was little too
I remember you happened
I remember

I still write my name in your handwriting



Kate LaDew is a graduate from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BA in Studio Art.