BELOVED BONNEMAMA
I placed violets on her grave.
The tears fell.
Memories crowded in, melded, became vivid:
Saturdays at the five and dime…
a small toy,
bringing so much joy.
Easter breakfast buns…
cinnamon swirled and sugar glazed,
the aroma of grandmotherly warmth.
Cream-filled chocolate eggs hidden among
her treasured Mario Lanza records.
Marshmallow chicks placed with care
behind well-tended violets on the windowsill.
A Belgian accent lent comic distortion
to the western hero “Hoop-A-Long Cassini”
or her declared dislike of “strawberry james.”
So humble, so patient with life’s bitter taste.
I placed violets on her grave.
The tears fell.
Julia LeMay is a retired executive assistant, native Californian now living in Washington where she loves to write poetry and stories for children.
SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).
SHARING STORIES is featured on http://www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit http://www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type “sharing stories” in the search function above.
