LULLABY FOR A GRANDSON was written by an 89 year old great-grandfather for his great grandson in 1959:

Now sleeps the angel in his bed,
His soul is bathed in rest,
No birdling ever tucked its head
More warmly in its nest.

The wide world tiptoes from his ken,
Time hushes in its race,
The shadowland of dreams steals in
And peace lights up his face.

Sleep on, sleep on, my little wren,
Store peace within your mind,
For many years must pass for men
‘Til peace again they find.

George W. Constable
source: findarticles.com

Nana Loves!

His sweet, young voice beckons me
I glance in his direction,
Dragging on the floor I see
The froggy game collection…
Nana play!

His favorite book is in my lap
He squirms on well padded knees,
Stalling for time before his nap
His soft voice gently prompts me…
Nana read! (more…)

Nothing to Fear

Grandson, there’s nothing to fear -
you’re as good as the best,
As strong as the mightiest, too.
You can win in every battle or test;
For there’s no one just like you.

There’s only one you in the world today;
So nobody else, you see,
Can do your work in as fine a way:
You’re the only you there’ll be! (more…)

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them; “Hold on!”

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And - which is more - you’ll be a Man, my son!

~ Rudyard Kipling ~

This is a fun, tongue-twister poem for Grandpa and Grandson to say together.  

Grandpa, No Need to Light a Night Light

Grandpa, you’ve no need to light a night light
On a light night like tonight,
For a night light’s light’s a slight light,
And, Grandpa, tonight’s a night that’s light.

Yes, Grandson, when a night’s light, like tonight’s light,
It is really not quite right
To light night lights with their slight-lights
On a light night like tonight.

by Anonymous

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Related categories: Grandparent poetry, Grandchildren poetry, Poems: Nana

Combine this poem with Build a Wooden Boat activities.

Grandchild, We’ll Sail the Sea

Grandchild, we have…

Adventures ahead,
Like the ones we read.
We’ll sail the sea,
Just you and me.

But first we must plan,
Do the best you can.
You’ll design and draw,
Then we’ll use the saw.

Make sure you sand,
I’ll lend a hand.
We’ll nail and pound,
Don’t mind the sound.

Finish with paint,
Without complaint.
We’ll let it dry,
Give it a try.

How happy we’ll be,
I know you’ll agree.
We’ll sail the sea,
Just you and me…

by Nanas Corner, 2008