Nanan
Tall and towering
always
in my early years
when I walked
into her bedroom
I would spy
treasures
on her porcelain
dresser tray
loose powder
jewelry in a dish
a string of pearls
the cobalt blue glass of
Midnight in Paris
Her scent
followed her
for years beyond
into her later days
she famously choose
jazzy prints
short heels
aqua and gold
a flair for color
costume jewelry
big brassy earrings
copper band bracelets
Her gray hair
now swept up,
a large braided
gray hairpiece
like a crown
sat atop her head,
the abundance
suggesting
her long hair of youth
that fanned out
across her bed
as stories go
into the shape of
a large circle
like the Round House
where trains
turned around
upon arriving
in the little town
of her origin
Wilson,
Louisiana,
where
this
radiant
Empress of Love
was born
always
in my early years
when I walked
into her bedroom
I would spy
treasures
on her porcelain
dresser tray
loose powder
jewelry in a dish
a string of pearls
the cobalt blue glass of
Midnight in Paris
Her scent
followed her
for years beyond
into her later days
she famously choose
jazzy prints
short heels
aqua and gold
a flair for color
costume jewelry
big brassy earrings
copper band bracelets
Her gray hair
now swept up,
a large braided
gray hairpiece
like a crown
sat atop her head,
the abundance
suggesting
her long hair of youth
that fanned out
across her bed
as stories go
into the shape of
a large circle
like the Round House
where trains
turned around
upon arriving
in the little town
of her origin
Wilson,
Louisiana,
where
this
radiant
Empress of Love
was born
4 thoughts on "Nanan"
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This poem flows down the page enticing the reader to keep reading. I’m not so sure our grandmothers weren’t related somehow. I was tracking with details in the poem — Midnight in Paris, big brassy earrings, jazzy prints, porcelain treasures. I get to the end and guess what? My grandmother was from Louisianna too. I’m going to try and write a poem about her now. Your delightful poem inspired me!
Thank you for your Wonderful comments—so glad you felt inspired—how cool your grandmother is from Louisiana too—-I just wanted to make a sketch without punctuation, maybe a soft portrait…I’m glad it made you picture your grandmother too.
You are a master of sensory language! The form of this poem is fascinating, as though a “person form” is stacked top to bottom.
I had not thought of that–but does go with the first line it seems once you see it that way (tall and towering)….I just liked the ease of reading that was created when centered. You comments are much appreciated—Thank you!