Granny

Granny was an institution a treasure trove of bygone days Laughter and tears, poured from her years her sometimes odd and senile ways

My great great grandma My uncle, brother, sister

and yes bottom right me lol

I had a great, great, grandmother
 still alive when I was a child
She was my grandpas, grandmother
even then she was a bit wild
Born in eighteen seventy eight
on a buckboard in Missouri
She had come a long way by then
she was fit and full of fury

We played cards everyday with her
beating her nearly made her weep
"Poopie, kacky, nanny" she'd say
"looks like it's time for you to sleep"
She'd wake me nearly every night
she returned from playing bingo
I'd play with her, games of euchre
sports of chance and foreign lingo

She would walk wherever she went
eat apples, including the core
Cuss and drink, then give me a wink
as she pulled the cards from her drawer
At times she would regress somewhat
"grandpa quit me in thirty four
Thought me uptight, he wasn't right
wouldn't run rum with me no more"

Her first picture was a tin type
"I was a looker in my day
I turned heads in the finest spreads
back then, I always got my way"
She witnessed many inventions
electric, lights to cars and trains
the first to own, a telephone
where she'd talk through the morning rains

At ninety she and I would watch
as three men circled round the moon
"We'll be on Mars, and then the stars
if I don't kick off pretty soon"
She lived to see her kids away
making sure they were buried right
"Yep" she'd say "I put them away
tucked em in for the winters night"

Once when we were playing football
and the game was getting quite tense
She'd sauntered by, looking quite spry
  I knocked her down, along the fence
She got up and kicked me senseless
too many bananas and beer
"Now you know, how to take a blow
don't ever show them any fear"

Granny was an institution
a relic of our bygone days
Laughter and tears, poured from her years
her sometimes odd and senile ways
She had outlived all her children
and a couple of grand-kids too
 War nor drought, could put her light out 
the toughest broad I ever knew

My family had a checkered past"Damn Revenuers"

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Author's Note

Our roots are almost always interesting. I think in my case I loved the roots to my great great grandmother. She was an institution. Older than Methuselah. I thought she was sister to father time. But she always seemed to take a liking to me.

Reviews

[Pratik]

This was SUPERB! What a nice tribute t your great-grandmother... Even though I don't remember much of my grandmothers ( both of them passed away when I was very small), I can say for sure they indulges in unmatched pampering when it comes to their grandchildren... They are the persons who can spank and cuddle you at the same time and that wouldn't make you feel bad! Your poem truly speaks volumes about the camaraderie that you shared with your granny.. those little details about playing cards, the football match, she witnessing the greatest inventions and journeys of mankind gives you a feel of the flow of time and that old-world ancient charm.... This was a lovely tribute from your side...If she would have read this she would perhaps throw out her arms and say.. "Come Tate, give me a hug boy!" :) Be proud Tate.. This is a jewel of all your writes.. :)

[Chris Shaw]

Legend is your great great grandmother. What alot of years she spanned and phenomenal changes she would have seen Tate. How difficult though to see the demise of her own children and some grandchildren too. She certainly had a streak of toughness as well as fun running through her veins. Really liked this tribute to her. Great photo too. Such an amazing Friday read. Have a good weekend.

Chris

[Tate Morgan]

Hi Chris Thank you. My granny was a tough old broad. Definitely a scrapper lol pioneer stock

[Chris Shaw]

They don't make em like that any more :)

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Tate... I can relate... a beautiful poem about Grannie.
My Mother's Mother Minnie raised six kids in the Holler in West Virginia
around 1920 or so. No electricity, but oil-burning lamps; My grandpa Dave
was a Coal Miner and walked to the Coal Mines. He died of Black Lung when I was 19.
I was the oldest grandchild. I suppose that is why I love Lorreta Lyn as she was born in Butcher Holler.
Wish I could sing like her... but I do write poems. Love your story, Tate. My Grandma Minnie loved Fishing
and had a limited education. However, she taught herself to write a letter, but never used punctuation;
I never missed a thought. I could read her letters perfectly. A lot of her lives on in me. gently, Pat

[Tate Morgan]

thanks Patricia. I don't use punctuation either.lol There are some things money cant buy. like memories and family

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Tate... I am the oldest grandchild and only a few cousins left, and there were plenty. I just keep going
and climbing upward where Eagles nest and poets rest. truly, Pat

[Levi Levin]

I think you told me about her some time back. A great tribute to such tough lady who saw so much in her days on earth.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Levi I need to start spending time here again

[Kent Rawski]

They say some things cant be bought and other things you cant make up Your granny must have been a hoot just hearing of her being born on a buckboard amazing story here though its A poem thanks for sharing a slice of americana and dont forget to wash behind your ears . Enjoyed this

[Lorry]

And also Tate, the only walking history book you would ever need. I guess she must have known she had too much to fit into a normal length life, so just kicked around a bit longer to make sure you learned those lessons well and were up to passing them on further along the line.
A beautifully written biography/memorial to an exceptional lady.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Lorry she was a walking encyclopedia of days gone bye

[Beccy]

I can only remember my dear grandma, (nanny goggles,) to all her seven grandchildren. I have seen pictures and been told stories of 'nana ballard,) my great grandma, (I am told that with just one listen she could play any tune by ear on the piano,) truly, I wish I had been as lucky as you.

This is a lovely, lovely tribute to that most wonderful of institutions, the family.

Beccy.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Beccy She was a one man army. I can remember her to this day TO see her and her gang of thieves round the table gambling every night lol. One night she came out and said " all right you bitties which one of you stole my money?" lol They all said they had no idea. Then my uncle came out and said granny you got drunk last night and hid your money under the mattress Here it is. "I never saw that money in my life" she said lol.She was a rum runner in the 30s and still had a gang of thieves in her 90s lol

[B]

I am crying

She's so beautiful

[Tate Morgan]

I tip my hat in reverence to both her and that statement thank you

[D.T.]

This was just absolutely wonderful. It made me think of my nanny and pa.....You did a really good job with this poem! It was a very nice tribute..

[Tate Morgan]

thank you Dt so nice to hear

[Diane Lockard]

It is a treasure to have a grandparent by your side growing up. Your writing is definitely poetry in motion; the vivid descriptions depict she must have been a "spitfire," as they said back in the day. Oh, the wonderful memories...

I had only one grandpa, living into his nineties, when I was growing up. He filled our lives with music, playing the fiddle with my mother on the piano, aunts, and cousins playing instruments and singing. We had our first family reunion when I was in high school before he passed away. Each reunion had music, laughter, and lots of good food!

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Diane she sure was i still remember her and her gang of thieves 80 somethings sitting at the table drinking cussing smoking cigars and cheating at cards. lol One of a kind .Thank you

[Diane Lockard]

That is hilarious, the women on my Mother's side were feisty too. Worked hard, and had hearts of gold. My aunt wrote a poem when she was in 90s, "I had a ferret with a tail like a carrot." Ended with "I put in it in a pot with potatoes and peas." "Grandma -a!"