Raised Me Twice Over

You'd already done your years Then you rolled your sleeves again Grandma, you drove me in that rattling sedan Radio on the station nobody my age understands Oatmeal with cinnamon, the smell of it at seven You signed my permission slips with your steady hand You could've rested — you'd earned the right Instead you left the hallway light on every night You raised me twice — once before I came You'd already given everything, then you gave it all again The second shift of loving, the encore no one plans I'm standing here because, Grandpa, Grandma I grew up in your hands Grandpa taught me fractions with a tape measure and wood Said school comes first, then showed me what patience could Parent nights where you two were the silver in the room You never once acted like I'd come too soon You could've slowed down — the years say you should Instead you learned my teachers' names by heart, like new parents would You raised me twice — once before I came You'd already given everything, then you gave it all again The second shift of loving, the encore no one plans I'm standing here because, Grandpa, Grandma I grew up in your hands The world calls it sacrifice; you just called it Tuesday Set another place, hung another coat You made a second childhood feel like home You raised me twice — once before I came You'd already given everything, then you gave it all again The second shift of loving, the encore no one plans I'm standing here because, Grandpa, Grandma I grew up in your hands You'd already done your years Thank you for doing mine