Grandpa's Back!

A vision and symbols

Letters laid on the table,
a magnifier with no label,
coffee with sugar and cream,
Grandpa's back in my dream.

Turning this way and that,
slowly taking off his hat,
a vision daring and wise,
has peeled off his disguise.

Bifocals with maroon handles bent,
sit with their meaning spent.
I see a man home from sea,
who possessed a piece of me.

Moving free among the crowd,
my presence he does applaud.
He orders, nodding once more,
"Eat, drink, laugh, explore!"

Imagined monsters, my midnight fears,
find a presence in my tears,
stripping me of my pride,
I cower, wanting to hide.

"Live your life, stop uttering;
this life is just a muttering."
All of a sudden, deeply shaken,
I lie awake, alone, forsaken.

Coffee with sugar and cream
is mine, not a dream.
So are letters, bifocals, magnifier.
Enter stale time, twisted liar!

My ghosts hasten to aid,
when I'm lonely and afraid.
All symbols I leave behind
come alive within my mind.