Poetry from Your Great Grandmother

Photo Note: This picture of GG was taken at Judd and Sandy's cabin in 2009. She was still walking on her own and conversing easily. Here she is having lunch in the warmth of the front patio. Doesn't she look jazzy? I intend to replace this picture with a current one, but for now, this will do.
As you grow older, ninos, you will develop your various talents and apply them in marvellous ways. At some point you may wonder who among your many ancestors might have shared these same skills. You will not have far to look for creative genes because your mother has them in abundance. Much of Mame's talents came from her grandmother (your GG) who could do just about anything: paint a picture, write a story, build furniture, re-shake and/or re-roof the house, prune fruit trees, tan leather from elk hide (a nasty, difficult job), home can the bushels of fruit she grew, design and sew a party dress (no pattern necessary, just show her a picture), on and on. She was not afraid to tackle anything, and most everything turned out well. (Her skills at barbering hair were a rare exception.)

I was looking through a box of her writings recently and came across some poetry which I am fairly certain she wrote (she attended various writing classes and kept many of her compositions, typed on an old Underwood). She wrote mostly prose.

This is a poem from nearly forty years ago. She left no explanation beyond its stanzas.

The Timeless Game
"On flashing feet of fancied fears
You sped me, down childish years
Of make believe's magic lore.
Then dashing through an unseen frame,
With shrieks of delight you played the game,
And tic-a-locked the door.

The spinning years held time and space
For you to flee, my lovers pace
Swift as an echo of youth's encore.
Still acting out a play-like part,
You fled into another's heart,
And tic-a-locked the door."


Thank you GG; your writings speak to us when you cannot.
We love you.