A Martyr In Lace and Five and Dime Cologne
Grandmother taught us
tradition matters in that
it must be passed on from
one generation to another,
she showed us the old-world
ways of baking, healing,
story-telling and nurturing.
Grandmother's apron was a symbol
of her time, it gave her the
status of good housekeeping woman,
elbows deep in flour, pies baked
from scratch, polishing the silver
to be put away in its mahogany box,
scrubbing and waxing floors till
her knuckles bled.
Grandmother was a martyr in lace
and five and dime cologne who
reminded friends and neighbors
that her husband died many years ago,
leaving her with five small children
who grew up and did well.
Grandmother saved Saturdays for
her grandchildren by treating us
with a ride on the city bus to
downtown for lunch where we would
order club sandwiches and coffee
with plenty of cream and sugar
making us feel very grownup.
Grandmother is gone but her ways
are not forgotten.
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