Nanny's Birthday, 4 May

My Grandmother

I used to sit on her hip, watching

buckwheat flapjacks flip, singing

“Nanny’s little baby loves shortenin’, shortenin’

Nanny’s little baby loves shortenin’ bread”.

This verse keeps running through my head.

And then she’d laugh, a rich and honest giggle

My Grandmother did.

We’d sit in her old, cold metal lawnchair, looking

at stars, old and cold; and there we’d be, singing

“The stars at night are big and bright--

Deep in the heart of Texas!”

Oh and then our Mom would come to fetch-us

And we’d all laugh, and Connie and I would wiggle

Us and Grandmother did.

She’d take us in the big ol’ Buick, riding

Up to Heber, hoping to see the Creeper, smoking

down or up the canyon, oak leaves gold, others red

Bridal Veil water splashin’ down

Looking up, I noticed, sometimes a phantom frown

And then she’d laugh, and we couldn’t help but join her

That’s what we and Grandmother did.

Other children, to our family were, joining

What had been a private party so long in, running

I have to admit here and now it made me jealous

to share hugs and kisses, the stories and jokes

Until I realized the fun we could have as cousin folk

And Nanny would laugh, and it was fine ever after

That’s what Grandmother did.

And so, after all that has gone by, and I’m, thinking

the hugs and kisses we’ll miss ‘til we are, going

to meet her and our kin in the paradise of GOD,

Where rest and peace reside and ugliness never mars,

out beyond the moon, but not yet to the stars,

we’ll appreciate the life we had, especially the laughter.

That’s what Grandmother did.

Michael D. LeFevre  ã Copyright 2003