I forgot to say thank you.

A poem to my father's father.

I forgot to say thank you.

when my father called
to tell me
he didn’t think 
you’d be alive 
in six months,

i turned 
to my brother
as we cruised through 
riverside, california
and i said
i didn’t know how 
to say goodbye
to someone 
for the last time

and when i took 
your hand
as you laid 
in the hospital bed
to explain to you 
what you meant to me,
i…