i.
When I had nightmares, Grandma Verna would put a Bible under my pillow. The rotting faces and knarled hands that plagued me throughout the night were sucked into the pages, leaving no trace upon the thin paper inside the binding. She said that it was the best trick she knew to get rid of bad dreams. I thought it was magic since no dream catcher I had ever owned worked so well.
ii.
My mom and dad hated each other. Dad said that she cared about us but I knew better. In all of my eight years of life, she had barely uttered a sentence in my direction. Grandma Verna took me in and raised me since Dad was never in the US and Mom was often stuck in her own thoughts.
The day finally came that she devorced Dad on the grounds that she loved a woman. Aunt Teresa said that she would pray for her soul but Grandma begged to differ on the subject. No matter what, Mom and her girlfriend would always be welcome in her home. I thought that if there was a god, he must have loved Mom a lot to let her make so many mistakes and still offer her so much happiness.
iii.
I sang "Come to Jesus" at the county talent show with my sister this year. It was the last song Grandma Verna had ever heard us sing. When everyone knew she was dying, we all came to see her. Of course, being a Blue Grass family, there was nothing else for the occassion but to play music. Everyone sang and prayed, and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. The next day, she died. Wanting to sing to her one last time, I tried my best to imagine her out in the crowd while we were on stage.
We won second place, even though my voice shook a little when I stared at the empty seat beside Grandma Ree. I knew then that there had to be a God because even though I had lost the woman who taught me the best way to get rid of bad dreams, it was unspeakable to think that this was the only life I had to spend with her.
Author notes
Why is it that all my really personal writes suck? Lol.
I know that by entering this in a religious contest, many of you will not see eye-to-eye with me on the fact that mom is gay and no one (including me) thinks that her soul will be facing the firey pits of hell. I'd rather not debate it since I respect opposing opinions on the matter and I'll never agree with any of them.
Thanks for reading!
A contest entry
- How did you find God? Prewrites Allowed. by AngieLynne.
650 points, ended August 18, 21 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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This is a fantastic piece of poetry you have penned here. Your words are so bittersweet. Your grandmother sounded pretty awesome. Wonderful job.
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What a sweet story!
Good Luck! -
This is powerful, moving and touching. There is a clearly a lot of emotion and feeling that went into this piece, and that emotion simply jumps off the page (screen.)
Grandma Verna sounds like an incredible person, and her story is absolutely wonderful.
Best of luck in the contest. I too entered the contest, but if I lose to this piece I'd know I was beaten by a great write!!
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Thanks for your comment. I loved her very much.
I also read your entry and it's incredible. Good luck.
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