Nana Kate knew hardship of the gnawing kind,
Brothers blown to smithereens on foreign beaches, then
Ten years on ten bob a week with six mouths to feed,
Whilst Granda marched from Jarrow with his 'marras'
In the thirties. Depressed.
Then there were five, when her only son
Succumbed to a leaking heart valve.
Twelve years of love buried in a plot
Beside a lone sycamore.
I knew the best of her,
Bright eyes sparkling with joy,
Arms always open for a hug,
Barley sugars from her apron pocket,
Chips on waxed paper with a pickled onion on the side,
Paddling in the sea with our skirts tucked into our knickers.
Making pretend on rainy days
Upside-down chairs became boats,
A clothes- horse and blanket for a tent.
The clock ticked loudly in the parlour
Whilst we sewed, idle hands were not allowed.
Nana's pantry bulged with food stored up
In case the hard times came again.
Eggs in isinglass fascinated me,
Plum jam and apple tarts from windfalls
Waited for custard.
I can still smell her bread...
And I see her again sometimes,
When I look in the mirror.
Author notes
I still miss my Nana even though she passed away many years ago.
Notes- The Jarrow hunger march went from Jarrow in the north east of England down to London.
A 'marra' is a local slang word for good friend.
In a list
A contest entry
- Grandparents give endless love.. by xXGoddessofPainXx.
670 points, ended December 5, 2008, 15 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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sorry, pushed a wrong button! Was saying, can't say enough good about this.
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To say that I "love" this poem seems almost trite, but I do love it. You wove such a beautiful story of love and endurance into your words. It left me lonely for my grandmother who died much too young, and before I could get to know her as an adult. I
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Fabulous
I am one of the lucky few who had 6 grandparents..grand and great grand...Children today lose out on all those intangible lessons and memories..Due to the "me" generation of their parents...I still miss my GP's
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Lovely, especially the last two lines.
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