Sunday 4 July 2010

Poetry Bus contribution.

The Weaver of Grass is driving the bus this week and suggests we write about a person. The person who sprang to my mind was my grandmother. There should have been a photograph to accompany this, but the procedure has changed and I am having problems loading my photos. As it used to say on my school report 'Must try harder'!!


A MUCH LOVED GRANDMOTHER.

Tall and striking - warm and loving -
deepset blue eyes and soft white hair.
She was like a second mother to me and we -
her grandchildren - all adored her.

She could do anything, or so we thought.
She knew everything, or so we thought.
Always busy doing something but
always made time for her family, and others.

She raised six children, had nine grandchildren,
kept bees, hens, goats and was a keen gardener.
She knitted, sewed, crocheted, made bread and
even made butter sometimes, and more besides.

In her forties she was gravely ill and almost died
but lived another forty years to
share her love among us all -
there was always enough to go round.

There was a time when I tried to model myself on her
but fear I fell very short of the mark.
She was a remarkable woman - ordinary really,
yet extraordinary and very special - even to this day.

I will try and load the photograph another time but would really have liked it to head this post.

17 comments:

Totalfeckineejit said...

A lovely tribute , Heather, and from where I'm standing, she lives on in at least one of her grandchildren.

Heather said...

If only it were true TFE - but thankyou anyway.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Lovely tribute Heather. I look forward to that photo when you can bear to put the Jan Messent book down.

Maggi said...

Lovely Heather. I never knew any of my grandparents.

Robin Mac said...

Wonderful tribute Heather, grandmothers are so special. Cheers, Robin

carole brungar said...

Hi Heather, just wanted to pop by and say thanks for the lovely comment you left on my blog!
Love your photos, nice to get out and about with you!

Dominic Rivron said...

A great tribute.

"She ... kept bees, hens, goats and was a keen gardener.
She knitted, sewed, crocheted, made bread and
even made butter sometimes, and more besides."

Whenever I try to model myself on such people I end up worn out by lunchtime wondering how they seemingly effortlessly manage to squash two hours work into one hour. Their hands seem to have a life of their own, and a cake can be baked during a conversation almost before you realise the flour has been taken out of the cupboard.

Peter Goulding said...

This is a lovely tribute, Hearther. Very much a picture of what we would all like our grandmothers to be!

Gwil W said...

Yes, a lovely tribute and also a chance reminder, for I hadn't thought of her for some time, of what a lovely woman my own grandma was too.

Titus said...

Oh, thank you Heather, that is a fine tribute indeed.
Like Peter, it is a picture of what we feel grandmothers should be, and you were blessed to actually have one. Not ordinary at all!

Unknown said...

Hopefully, most children can see a wonderful, warm and loving woman in the shape of their grandmother. And I'm sure you don't need to model yourself on anyone for others to see those traits in you.

sharon young said...

Beautifully put as ever, Heather.

Sophie Munns said...

Hi ...I found you through Ro in Melbourne ...
just wanted to tell you I love your allotment art work.....
thought it a fantastic concept and work!
Sophie

Maureen said...

A well loved Grandmother Heather, reminds me of my maternal gmother, would love to see the photo!!

Heather said...

My clever daughter has put Granny (and Grandad) in the right place for me.

Val said...

I'm just catching up with you Heather, and wondered who the lovely lady (and gent) in the photo was! Lovely tribute to a lovely lady I see.

BT said...

I'm glad you managed to get the photo uploaded, it's beautiful. What a fabulous tribute to your Grandmother, she was clearly very special.