by Cheryl Batavia

Saying Goodbye to Our Grandparents

(Thirty Years Ago)

Celebrating the lives of our grandparents, whose positive influence has continued throughout our lives and in the lives of everyone who loved them. Photo by Jamie Street from Unsplash

Saying Goodbye to Our Grandparents

(Thirty Years Ago)

High on a hill, in a historic graveyard

overlooking a quaint Pennsylvania town,

we went to say our final goodbyes

to our grandmother.

After the crowd had dispersed,

my brother, sister, and I lingered.

We each threw a handful of earth

into the open grave.

There was something satisfying about doing that.

My grandmother had always loved growing things

in that Pennsylvania earth; she had placed a headstone

years before, planning to join my grandfather here.

We stood for a few moments in silence

as the cemetery worker waited to fill the grave.

Our grandparents were gone.

It was the end of an era.

When I think of my grandparents today,

in my mind’s eye, I can see the graveyard

high on a hill, and a pink granite headstone

engraved with a heart and both of their names.

Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia

59 Comments

    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, Joanna, for your kind words. Glad you like the poem. I never knew my mother’s parents, but I do feel very fortunate to have known my father’s parents. I am so sorry you lost family members in the war. I fervently wish human beings could end all wars!

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  3. Unknown's avatar

    Remembering my grandparents. 👴🏻👵🏻 I am the eldest of all their grandchildren and thought of to be the favorite. 😁 They always bring me along to their workplace, friend’s house, relatives, and even neighbors. Grandpa always carries me on his neck as we wait for Grandma to come home from work. Grandpa was a taxi driver while Grandma was a seamstress. Missing them both. ❤️🥰🤗🎈 Thank you, Cheryl. 😊

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  10. Unknown's avatar

    What a heart touching poem, Cheryl! Thank you for sharing your memories! You have rightly stated that they represent an era. Unfortunately I couldn’t see grandfather and grandmother.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your very kind comment, KK. ❤ ❤ ❤ I am very fortunate to have known two of my grandparents. Unfortunately, I don't have grandchildren, but I do have nieces and nephews. I hope younger family members get to know you, KK. ❤ You are a wonderful example!

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  11. Unknown's avatar

    Cheryl, the line ‘It was the end of an era’ sums up exactly how I felt at my grandfather’s (Morfar – maternal grandfather) funeral. Your poem is so full of love, care and understanding about the momentous loss of not just a person but of an epoch! It is touching how only your close family members remained behind to cast in the earth. For my grandfather’s funeral, there were so many family members, that I felt I lost that moment for an ‘intimate’ goodbye – but rather experienced that a few days later on a walk on the rocks by the sea. By the way, the site sounds tranquil and beautiful, high up on the hill!

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you so much, Annika for sharing your story and your perspectives. ❤ Making peace with the loss of a loved one helps us to go forward. Walking on the rocks by the sea sounds like the perfect way to say goodbye.

      When my husband died, our young children and I went out on a sailboat and left his ashes in the bay. That was a memorable moment for us.

      The graveyard in my grandparent's historic small town is indeed a peaceful spot with lovely trees.

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        Cheryl, I can’t even imagine the pain and heartache to lose your husband so early and with your children so young. You eloquently describe the peace and togetherness as you said your final farewell on the sea. Bless you all. Xx ❤️

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  13. Unknown's avatar

    Grandma prepared. That’s a sign of good living.
    I adore this poem wow. I love it. The act of doing that in the end goes deep. Grandma thanks you I am sure.

    I love this graveyard poem and like it that it started from that haiku. I bless you. XoXo

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  20. Unknown's avatar

    You are lucky and blessed to have these beautiful memories. Thank you for sharing them with us. I vaguely knew my maternal grandmother and did not know the other three grandparents. Maybe that’s why I’ve become more interested in studying old photos of them over the years and writing what I recall my parents telling me about them and the era that seems so distant now.

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you, JoAnna, for sharing your thoughts. I did not get to know my mother’s parents, but I am very fortunate to have known my wonderful paternal grandparents. Like you, I have looked at some old photos and listened to my mother’s wonderful stories about her parents and grandparents. I will probably never be a grandma, but I have nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. ❤ Have a blissful day!

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  21. Unknown's avatar

    Thank you for sharing such deep memories, Cheryl. And in such a beautiful, poetic way too. Grandparents make us who we are – they pass down their culture to us and teach us valuable life lessons. We can’t stop appreciating and remembering them for all that they’ve done for us. This was a fitting tribute.

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      1. Unknown's avatar

        Thank you, things are going a bit better. Since my last update post my story was accepted by my local paper and I managed to claim one benefit so at least some money is going in now. It’s still not enough to live off of yet but things aren’t as desperate as before.

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    2. Unknown's avatar

      Simone, I am glad things are improving.

      My late husband, who you may remember was a quadriplegic, used to say that being disabled had made him mature beyond his years. When I read what you write, I feel that is also true of you, and I believe that you are capable of meeting the challenges of your life.

      I wish you health, happiness, and success. ❤ All the best! ❤

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    1. Unknown's avatar

      Thank you for your kind response, Kritika.  ❤   My grandma was well-known for her work ethic. Afraid that I didn't  measure up with my regular job and lacking many of the skills she possessed, I asked her about it. Though my life was different from hers, she assured me that she thought I was also a hard worker!  🙂  

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