Poetry Friday: A Poem for My Grandfather

My grandfather, whom I call Daddy Marcus, gave me my first poetry books as a child. I still have them. Here is my poem of reflection:

Shel

by Marcie Flinchum Atkins

You opened the world
of poetry
to me
through the gift of Shel.

I memorized, chanted and sang
"Ickle Me,
Pickle Me,
Tickle Me Too."
I read The Light in the Attic,
Where the Sidewalk Ends,
until the pages were dog-eared,
yellowed with age.

Important moments,
holidays, calls
were few,
but you gave me the gift of words,
the music of poetry.

Those poems still sit on my shelf
and I visit them
once in awhile.

His words will always inspire me--
my first link
to my love of poetry.

Shel will always be
what connects
me to
you.

Poetry Friday roundup is at Writing and Ruminating.