practically yesterday

my grandfather burned up in a house fire
when my dad was twenty four years old
we inherited ten thousand dollars
and a renovated house
so dad quit his job and mowed the lawn
every sunday
his vision of his father

my grandmother was a blonde and never died
a black box of ashes bears her name
and currently lives on my dresser top
beside a dog named skippy
and the portrait of her former self
my version of her
with an emphasis on her