It is probably a good thing
granddaughter, that you have never
bothered to ask me what one, what
singular piece of advice I would
leave you with, not that I am
anticipating an imminent departure.

It isn’t because I doubt that you
would care about or believe what I
have to say although I may well
stand corrected if you asked only
out of compassion or pity.

Nor is it that I have no advice
to impart to one two generations
removed from the source of that
which I might offer, although
that gaping gulf is significant.

And while it would be difficult
to synthesize my thoughts
to a single piece of advice, I could
do so with some serious effort.

No, it is none of those things, it is
simply that you need to experience
the seed that gave root to my advice
for yourself, for that is precisely
what imbues it with real value.