DEEP FOOTPRINTS by Andrew Salkey.

Once, we had a persistent uncle, with us, at home, a slow burner,
with more than enough patience to light the whole family fire.

We called him names like hope, work, struggle, time and victory;
his smile hid years of torment; his walk was slow and very long.

When he died, the whole family called one another names like hope,
work, struggle, time and victory; and his footprints became ours...