This poem was originally published on 28 December 2012. It appears in my debut anthology Wildflower Sea available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo Books.

Today nature bowed as leaves fell to the ground. The sun shone dimly or maybe his greatness shone brighter. There was not a cloud in the sky as they had all made way, out of respect, for him to climb up to heaven. Maybe God needed some brilliant legal advice. This poem is a dedication to my great-grandfather. 28/12/2012

He lay there with a peaceful air
Hanging around his person
Mocking the tension of his heirs
Telepathically giving a sermon

The tubes in his mouth and his unconscious state
Did not keep him from saying
That this had been prophesied as his fate
And nothing would work by praying

Hard work and sheer determination
He followed all his life
Despite the weight upon his shoulders
When he had to support five children and a wife

Though tough times he was set up against
And a new life he had to form from scratch
No matter what obstacle you set before him
You could never deviate him from his path

Youth is a luxury, Old age - a privilege
And with ninety eight years worth of wisdom
He used it as his immunity - though time had weathered his movements
Not a bit was out of reach, the world was his kingdom

His story was etched in his skin
Respected by one and all
Even by his opponents who envy him
A legend never to fall

In our minds and in our hearts
His memory shall always live on
But one memory with which I shall never part
Is when he told me to be the 'Best of All'

And there he lay with a peaceful air
Silently still fighting
Mocking the tension of his heirs
Who on the other hand were crying