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Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Grandma Used to Say

This morning I thought of Bill Wither's Grandma's Hands.

Grandma's hands
Soothed a local unwed mother
Grandma's hands
Used to ache sometimes and swell
Grandma's hands
Used to lift her face and tell her,
She'd say "Baby, Grandma understands
That you really love that man
Put yourself in Jesus hands"
Grandma's hands
_____________________

Which led me to think about my grandmother: Claire Elaine Flowers
My grandmother's hands are long gone from my eyes, yet remain in my senses attached to memories in whiffs of her powdered skin.
Dainty, smooth and petite; they'd handled a lifetime.
Whenever my soul was storming
her voice r
reassured me
the rhythm
of this world.
Storm, sun.
Tragedy, relief.
Loss, love.
Pain, joy.
Loved, broken.

It was Claire that told me to ride it out because this too, shall pass.
She was a woman of few words, but she positioned a soft, understanding space for me to rest my worries.



5 comments:

  1. I found you... and I love your poem. I too wrote of a memory today with my mom who just passed. People keep telling me to look for signs and I can't help but wonder if the fact that we were paired, both writing about loss and that I share a name with your Grandmother is a sign. Either way... I am glad we are connecting. I will keep Claire's words close to my heart as I navigate the process of losing my mom.
    Clare

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  2. My dad passed away 6 weeks ago. He was sicker than any of us knew. The week following his open heart surgery was a true roller coaster. May the memories of her hug you every day!

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  3. Such a beautiful tribute to your grandmother and the power of a mentor text, in this case the poem by Bill Withers, to evoke a precious memory. You captured the rhythm of the world with just a few words.

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  4. Love the phrase "a soft, understanding space for me to rest my worries." My grandma was so special to me too. Thanks for sharing this. I feel like my grandma was sending me a little present through your words.

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  5. Love the phrase "a soft, understanding space for me to rest my worries." My grandma was so special to me too. Thanks for sharing this. I feel like my grandma was sending me a little present through your words.

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