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.. :)

[.]

I love this ,Tate. It takes a lot of courage to put this personal information into a beautiful dedication. The way your words flow off the page to the vivid details of your great great granny's personality, this poem sings a nostalgic melody. Beautiful work,my dear friend--as always :)

-Cord

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Hi Tate, as always you portray a character so fully in your descriptions. Such a lovely warm piece like all of your reflections on people you have known.

[Mauricio Montoya]

I hear that! Nice work.

[Marie]

Wow. She was such a feisty, fancy lady, wasn't she? You were lucky to have known her. I hope she knows, somehow, about this poem.

I can't imagine knowing a great-great grandmother. I did know a great-grandmother.

[Patricia B. Hepler]

Really loved this-including your author's note! You were blessed to have known & learned from this lady.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
~pat

[Tomi]

Splendid write sir! A testament to the beauty of age! Loved reading this!

[Enid Blake]

My great grandmother taught me to play cards when I was a very young girl. She used to cheat all the time, she'd never let anyone else win lol :)

[David Scott]

Rings true. Insight into the people who built this country. We need more Grannys and less wimpy takers. I know you loved her by reading this and now we can love her just a little bit too.
Thank you for sharing this Tate!
Be well.

[intuitivesoul]

Sounds a lot like my great granny. Tough as nails without doubt, but sweet and the most caring person you'll ever know. There's a lot to learn from that kinda person, one who has witnessed many things. Don't let her see that father time joke though haha!

[Coyote Poetry]

I understand this poem. I was raised by a Grandmother who taught me to be kind and know laughter. I like this woman. Hard time made strong people. I like the way you got along with your Great grandmother. My daughter was lucky. She got to spend with my dear grandmother. Thank you for the beautiful story of a wonderful woman.
Coyote