My grandfather was a gardener

My grandfather was a gardener.

My grandmother was a canner.

At various times, they would bring,

to our house,

trunks full of food.

Perhaps, because we were growing and ravenous –

for both food and words.

English was, however, not his first language.

Around us he was a man of few words.

Although he could be quick with a belt.

I wonder now, whether his few words,

were related to the fact that English,

was throughout his life his non native tongue.

While he did not provide tons of words,

he did provide, over the years, tons of food.

I am now old enough to recognize that,

people show love in so many varied ways.

Now his great granddaughters,

whom he never met,

study his native German.

If he were alive today,

would he now tell them things –

that he never had the words to tell us?

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