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A Better Time and Place
Closing my eyes I can see it still--
That huge white house in the turn.
The tin roof is glinting in sunlight.
There's the brush fire where leaf piles will burn,
The red dirt path that served as a trail
To the barn where Bossie was housed,
And the umber coat of the redbone hound,
He was awful when he was aroused!
There were old tires cut in a scallop,
Then painted bone-white with a brush.
They outline the driveway and entrance
Where welcoming, Grandma will rush.
Still wiping her hands on her apron,
I can feel her warm calloused touch,
As she laughs and embraces her grandchild.
Oh Grandma, I miss you so much!
I can see the shuck broom by the casing,
To scrub off the painted porch floor.
I appreciate now all the old ways
That I hadn't acknowledged before.
But I guess as my own life plods onward,
One fact shines as bright as a star.
The experience of people and places,
Really made us today what we are.
Music: Georgia On My Mind
Author's Notes/Comments:
Autumn makes my mind turn back to former days and times. When I was a little girl, I loved to visit my Grandma, Fannie Cook in Heard County, Georgia. I never remember a time when I was not welcome and received with open arms. She was a gentle soul and I miss her.
This is it,the one I loved so much and the one that made me know you were going to become a favorite.I told you I lived in Georgia for a while and you describe it so well.I really liked "Still wiping her hands on her apron,
I can feel her warm calloused touch,"
Reminded me of my own Granny.Brought back lots of memories.Thanks dear for sharing.
Jessica, you surely have a gift for rhymed poetry. I admire your work a lot and am amazed at the volume of poems you have in your portfolio. This is the second one I have read and it is written with a lot of thought and meaning... truly well done. Richard
Jessica,
What an awsome poem of the love and memory of that wonderful place and your loving grandmother.
this is the first of your poems that I have read but be assured that I am coming back for more. If this is a typical example of your work, then I am looking forward to many hours of beautiful reading. Thank you so much for all of your comments recently, my computer has had modem problems and been down for the last two weeks so it came as a pleasent surprise when I got back online today. i will be in touch real soon... must tend to my Grandaughter now LOL...
Peace and love ~~~~ Dougie ~~~
What a beautiful poem and such a lovely tribute to your Grandmother. This certainly brings back some memories for me, too. I always looked so forward to our summer trip to Murphy North Carolina to visit my grandparents. We would spend an entire week with them. I learned so much from my Grandmother, she always let me help her with the cooking and household chores. She made me feel like I was someone special as we talked and laughed and shared our very own little secrets. I miss her, too!
Great poem Jess ~
Tricia
Reminds me of going to visit my moms family in North Georgia as child...thanks for the memories