Try to explain to a three-year-old
why her grandpa’s in hospital
by the grace of God and not lying
my God it is hard both to explain
high religion and base mortality
shy of turning it into causality.
We believe in God the Father Almighty
Creator of mothers and fathers
and sons and grand-daughters
who sit on the potty and ask
why is grandpa in hospital?
When I was ten, I found my grandpa lying
papery cold in his bed, grief and mortality
the inevitable causality
of life, love and trying
to believe.