Granny came into the world
shortly after the assassination of President Lincoln,
grew up during post-Civil War reconstruction,
and lived a long life in Southern Appalachia.
She witnessed the invention of radio, telephone,
automobiles, airplanes and television.
She lived through two World Wars, Korea,
and early U.S. involvement in Vietnam.
She mourned the assassination of three U.S. presidents,
the loss of four sons and her husband.
She saw astronauts go into space and orbit the earth.
While raising a family, she baked, canned, cooked,
farmed, gardened, washed clothes on a washboard,
weaved on an old-fashion loom,
and road side-saddle, all while puffing her
Pamplin, Virginia clay pipe along the journey.
She lived during a time when neighbors looked 
after neighbors and were willing to help.
I knew this strong mountain woman
and still ring her 1889 dinner bell,
she was my maternal great-grandmother.

There were many rugged female pioneers who helped build this nation, they were not famous, but without them we would have never made the journey!