my grandmother, my friend

a daughter is a little girl who grows up to be a friend. unknown.

the days of summer were the best
the strongest sunlight and the longest noon
when the breezes were quiet
and the waves were without crest

by the lake, i sat nearest the smoke house
with its soft embers tending to the fish and meat

a few wood planks made a bench
for me, my mother and her mother
both happy for their freest of children
circling and turning and twisting
with the quickest of dreams
known only to the innocence of minds
and, with god's prayer, the eldest living through the oldest of times

i remember her now
her gentle hand brushing my unruly hair
carefully, quietly, stroking me from plain to most fair
her love for me, my sisters, my brothers, my family
her love, her family, the greatest love in its most bare

Shoo Wee Shoo Wee Shoo Wee
were her words for my hair and me
From the start of my hair to the ends of my hair
Shoo Wee Shoo Wee
It relaxed me, comforted me, quieted me
as it should be
a mother's mother and her child