Grandma's Charm

                       As I reflect upon days gone by,

And the many people I’ve known,

The one that stands among the BEST,

Is my sweet gray-haired jewel back home;

None other has touched my life,

With memories ever so rare,

None other has taught the heartbeats of life, 

And blessing we learned to share;

None other was as giving,

Asking nothing in return, but a smile,

Always ready to listen to my secret dreams,

In her ole’ pioneer style;

I can still remember the sweet aroma

Of her presence and the wisdom in her voice,

As we shared the world of dreams,

All mine for just a choice;

She opened endless horizons of life,

And taught me how to see,

The priceless gift of being alive,

And just learning how to be;

Her garden flowers singing from

The fragrance of her loving hand,

The smell of fresh baked bread and cookies,

As we grabbed them from her pan;

Countless memories dancing and

Swimming inside my head,  

Like the time in fear I took refuge,

Under her private bed;

Counting snowflakes, our tingling tongues,

As time stood quietly still,

Applauding raindrops racing to the bottom

Of her window sill;

Her home was always a place where

I was safe from all harm,

For the power of her gentle voice,

Was the power of a Grandma’s Charm!

    Robert J. Darrigan, Federal Way, Washington. In honor of National Grandparents Day