Granny
She added extra sugar to the Jiffy muffin mix
She mixed it all together
Stuck a finger in, and brought it to her lips
“Needs a little more sugar,”
She said with a smile
Sprinkled sugar on top of each cake
A sparkly little pile
A sparkly little pile
I can still hear the metal rocking chairs
Moving to and fro
Can hear the birds chirping
Feel the warm country breeze blow
I can hear her stories, I can see the trees
I remember feeling loved as she listened to me
Together, we collected eggs from chickens
I slid down her cellar door
She taught me how to cook
And the value of completing a chore
I helped her draw water from her well
She taught me about Heaven
And instilled the fear of Hell
Her eyes had grown weak
But a Bible she still read
Jumbo print, with lined pages
Margins full
And Jesus’s words in red
She’d retrieve goodies from the “icebox”
Refreshed us with “Adam’s Ale”
Taught us card games
And told us many tales
I loved helping with baby chicks
Despised the early rooster’s crow
Winessed her saving scraps
Reusing everything
And watched her sew
Conservation
Conversation
Caring gentle touch
Cancer changed her quickly –
I began to take care of the woman
Who had cared for me so much
I put on a brave face
But cried while she slept
“God, if you take her, let me not forget” –
She rarely left her house
She never traveled far
She was even short in stature
But her legacy looms large
Now, I have a daughter who shares her date of birth
Exactly 100 years between
And the full effect of Granny’s legacy
Is still yet to be seen
Is still yet to be seen
“Needs a little more sugar,”
She’d say with southern graces
Like leaven, salt, or light
Her life sprinkled the right stuff
In all the right places
5 thoughts on "Granny"
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Your poem called up so many memories. I loved playing wih the baby chicks. I remember mine darning socks. Love the way the direct quote frames your poem.
Thank you! I’m glad the poem brought back memories for you.
What a beautiful poem.
Fantastic remembrance and great poem
Thank you!