As a seventh grader
I was inexperienced
with the experience
of grief.
I watched you,
my Maw Maw
change.
You were brash, while lovingly kind.
Someone who skipped in parking lots
while smiling in the sunlight,
your hand holding mine.
The pastor said,
in life, you were "full of piss and vinegar."
And even at the age of twelve
I knew this was meant to be a compliment.
It was 33 years ago today
we said our goodbyes.
Ahhh, not the anniversary I was expected. I hold dear these grief anniversaries, too. The lines "in life, you were "full of piss and vinegar."/And even at the age of twelve/I knew this was meant to be a compliment." are particularly precious to me. Thank you for this beautiful slice.
ReplyDeleteI'm confident your Grandmother would jump for joy in reading your post!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely tribute to your grandmother!
ReplyDeleteSome memories stay with you. These lines stand out;"I was inexperienced/ with the experience /of grief."
ReplyDeleteI love the lines mentioned above but also this: ‘I watched you/my Maw Maw/change.’ So poignant.
ReplyDeleteAnd do I understand that you are writing a poem each day, with the number of lines as the date?! Clever!