Do you remember me, Grandma?
These lilies are for you
Picked them at your favorite park
The one near Arthur Kill
Imagine she misses Grandpa
Night lights in vacant eyes
Drawn to sudden song from birds
Past war abducted mind
Do you remember me, Grandma?
When I was Little D?
Within your yard I’d cross home plate
Pretend to be a Yankee
And will you remember me, Grandma?
On this Easter Day
Slave labor tortured
We’re out of time
I watch you wheel away
*The above poem is my response the One Stop Poetry Picture Prompt Challenge. The above photo is by a talented and kindhearted Canadian photographer, Mr. Greg Laychak! Check out his interview today over at OSP.
This entry was posted on April 23, 2011 at 11:05 pm and is filed under Image Poetry, One Shoot, One Stop Poetry, Poetry Reading with tags Blog, dustus, Greg Laychak, One Shoot Sunday, One Stop Poetry, photo, photographer, picture prompt challenge, poem, poet, Poetry, Poetry Reading. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Dustus Blog 
April 23, 2011 at 11:24 pm
this reminds me of one of my close friend’s relatives who now just wheels around in a home.. heartbreaking.
really powerful poem dustus. got me with this one
April 23, 2011 at 11:43 pm
appreciate that. My best to your friend’s relatives *sigh*
April 24, 2011 at 12:00 am
A lump in my throat…think it’s my heart. My soft spot, the tenderness of the aging loved ones…I helped in the care of my own grandparents…not an easy task….this placement seems even harder to me being in a place away from family, though sometimes necessary….like with my father…whom passed Jan. 27, and I await word of services because of the Winter chills in the north, set for May 26th….*sigh with a tear Adam….
April 24, 2011 at 12:03 am
I am very sorry to hear about your loss, April. Sincerest thanks for sharing that.
April 24, 2011 at 12:42 am
Very emotional and sad.
April 24, 2011 at 4:02 am
A very poignant poem Adam. ‘Night lights in vacant eyes’ and
‘Past war abducted mind’ conjures up nostalgia for what has been (and gone before). Then the lines;-
‘We’re out of time
I watch you wheel away.’
says it all – that we really have so little time here.
Very powerful and effecting poem Adam!
April 24, 2011 at 6:13 am
Sometimes forgetfulness, no matter what the clinical name, is a gift to those who have too much to remember. No wonder that the first stream one crossed in death was Lethe, forgetfulness. While we remember, and fiercely — for now. Fine poem.
April 24, 2011 at 7:02 am
An opportunity to show love for the Grandma, a pleasant read
April 24, 2011 at 7:03 am
thanks for sharing this is really sad and poignant thank you
April 24, 2011 at 7:17 am
This is so so sad and so beautifully written, sweet and genuine
April 24, 2011 at 7:48 am
The word is poignant, yet there’s also a child’s yearning for his grandmother, even if the child is an adult. Good poem, Adam.
April 24, 2011 at 7:52 am
this last line made my heart break – watching you wheel away – sounded like much more than physically wheel away..and it’s so hard to let them go..a sensitive poem adam
April 24, 2011 at 8:02 am
Painfully good. It brought tears to my eyes.
April 24, 2011 at 8:43 am
Wow, Adam, this one really packs a punch. You pulled a story filled with raw emotion out of a still photograph and brought it to life. Thank you for sharing.
April 24, 2011 at 9:05 am
Still the voice of innocence inquiring after her. You gave her children. That was warm and giving as is your work. Well written. Gay
April 24, 2011 at 9:16 am
Oh, Adam…touching and heart-wrenching story. I feel the sadness in your words and have been in your shoes….and someday, we may be in hers. Happy Easter, friend.
April 24, 2011 at 9:37 am
Time, it can be so cruel, but all must face it…a moving story contained within your words, Adam. Solid narrative.
April 24, 2011 at 9:39 am
but she can never wheel so far that you lose her…
April 24, 2011 at 9:43 am
So moving, Adam, especially when heard in your voice. I’m all overcome with goosebumps!
April 24, 2011 at 9:55 am
Wonderfully touching write. Evoking true pain of watching our loved ones move through this time. Very lovely ~ Rose
April 24, 2011 at 10:12 am
see? you wrote about your gramdmother.
but, i have to add that you wrote very beautifully. i love the part about crossing the plate like a yankee. and the easter lilies.
happy easter, my friend.
fb
April 24, 2011 at 11:32 am
Just deleted a comment b/c I didn’t want something satirical misinterpreted by others (I know you can relate to that). I have nothing but respect for you. A happy easter to you too.
April 24, 2011 at 12:09 pm
As Brendan says, sometimes forgetfulness is a great gift, and a process in untying us from pain and loss. The suffering is greater I think for those who aren’t remembered, as your poem shows, seeing the wealth of a lifetime locked where it can’t be found.
April 24, 2011 at 12:37 pm
“Night lights in vacant eyes” – this line speaks a thousand words – a very evocative poem Adam !
April 24, 2011 at 12:53 pm
This is heartbreaking!
April 24, 2011 at 1:32 pm
Touching account with hints of the child peeking in from the adult
April 24, 2011 at 2:10 pm
I have every right to state how I feel about a prompt. Do not remove my link and exclude me from participation in this prompt again. Brendan used a different photo. You have no right to play censor and JI’ll come after you. j
April 24, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Powerful post, tender words spoken of an aging need to keep in touch with histories of long ago, days gone by yet personal to each of us.
April 24, 2011 at 2:49 pm
Very tearful for the Holiday.
April 24, 2011 at 4:22 pm
Very moving. Especially when I heard you read it aloud.
April 24, 2011 at 4:32 pm
dude the slave labor line jumped out at me…sparse feelings with this…my MIL the last 2 years, pretty much…
April 24, 2011 at 4:33 pm
haunting, yet truthful..the memories that we recall hoping to find a glimmer of that time now gone ~
April 24, 2011 at 5:27 pm
A wonderful poem with both joy and sadness in it on this Easter day…love the childhood memories woven in.
April 24, 2011 at 9:37 pm
so sad. hopefully grandma get visitors on days other than just Christmas and Easter.
April 24, 2011 at 9:47 pm
What is that word when the thumb hugs another hand? Your poem created that response in my heart. Clear minded word choice and tenderness in the same phrasing. Wow
April 24, 2011 at 10:22 pm
This is so touching. Sad, yet so beautiful….
April 25, 2011 at 4:10 am
Nicely done Adam.
Grandma memories are always fond ones.
April 25, 2011 at 4:20 am
Poignant and very moving.
April 25, 2011 at 4:50 am
Just a touch of a little boy lost – hence touching…
April 25, 2011 at 7:50 am
Beautiful tribute… I wish I had a Grandma to visit!
April 25, 2011 at 8:34 am
So touching Adam..oh the horror of loneliness it would be so great at this age, then I cannot even try and think how I’ll feel at their age.
April 25, 2011 at 10:01 am
“The Lilly’s are for you” This is so sweet and beautifully breathtaking, Adam
We all face this reality of getting older..I hope I have someone who will bring me Lilly’s…thank you for taking the time to visit , I appreciate your feedback… ♥ ஆεlεɳa ~.^
April 25, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Actually this was the first one I read yesterday; it’s tender and beautiful– shows your poet’s heart. xxxj
April 26, 2011 at 10:26 am
Well-written, good piece.
April 26, 2011 at 7:59 pm
What a great poem. Saddness in the words but great. Thanks for stopping by to read mine. The lines you like are my favorite too, I almost feel like it’s a shame that the poem goes the route it does. I’ll have to reuse them in another way maybe in the future:-)
April 27, 2011 at 8:44 am
Miss my granny so much reading this .. its just last month she was visiting us and i wish i could go n meet her again ..
April 27, 2011 at 11:20 am
Very sad poem. Well written.