My dear Ong Noi, my dear grandpa.
You were so smart, you were so strong.
You had big dreams for me, all along.
You wanted me to become a doctor,
And then continue to be a professor,
And you had that unwavering faith in me
As your granddaughter, no wrong you could see.
I had it all planned months and months early,
As soon as I would graduate, in LA I would be.
I wanted to make you a new set of teeth
So that you could smile and happily eat.
Two years ago, the American board I had to do.
It was in San Diego, three hours away from you.
When I said in LA I wanted to go
Everyone started shrieking and said no.
The Canadian board was but 10 days away,
I had to study hard and without delay.
Christmas and graduation were just around the corner,
Surely I would see you sooner rather than later.
So I left San Diego pushing away this creeping feeling,
That it was an incredible mistake, a bad omen, so unappealing.
As soon as I landed back in Texas, I was told
"Grandpa fell ill and was hospitalized on your way home".
I called everyone and immediately wanted to fly back,
Auntie told me "Don't worry silly child, and give yourself some slack.
He's already better now and sleeping. Go, focus, study and pass."
A white lie it was, and somehow I think I knew,
That it was already too late, and started feeling blue.
A day later, the phone rang loud and clear, that dreaded call...
For two days straight, I cried and bang my head against the wall,
Sacrifices are needed, but I was drowned in sorrow, guilt and distress
For dreams should not make you miss your grandpa's last breath.
When I got numb from crying, I finally fell asleep.
That is when you visited and said in your voice so deep:
"Viet-Tram, dear child, don't you see?
There's nothing you could do to come to me.
So here I am instead, by your side in the clouds
Now stand back up and make me proud..."
So I got out of bed and in a daze went back to my books.
Five days later I passed my board despite all hooks.
And another four months later I received an offer,
To go back to Canada and become a professor.
Six months after your visit, I finally graduated...
Grandpa how I wished you had been there to celebrate.
You left us just short of me achieving your dream,
The irony of this really makes me want to scream.
I swallow it all up though, because I really know
That ever since that day, you're by my side watching me grow.
For there's no way I would have achieved all this,
Without you watching over me, making my life a bliss.
I miss you Ong Noi...
