_______
catch a wiggly child
slip shirt over little head
“POP goes the weasel!”
purple monkeys run around
when mulberry bush is ripe 😉
________
grandma games
09 Aug 2023 6 Comments
in tanka Tags: grandma, monkeys, mulberry, POP, purple, weasel
once upon a time at grandma’s house…
25 Jan 2023 15 Comments
in story Tags: granddaughters, grandma, princess, queen
sometimes my grand daughters
dress up as princesses and live
together in make-believe castle
(partitioned basement toy room)
wearing single toy crown, one of
them acts as the queen and she
invariably invites me to come for
a visit with royals at their palace
when addressing the queen, one
must be respectful but i get into
trouble by casually referring to her
little highness as “Queenie Poo”
they predictably haul me off
to the jailer’s dungeon where
they mercifully bring me books
and copious meals of fake food
eventually, i am released but
regretfully have not yet learned
my lesson and the story repeats
to the general delight of all parties
____________
I’ve written a few poems about my grandmothers (“I Remember Them”) and grandchildren but here’s a new story poem for dVerse.
giving thanks
16 Nov 2021 17 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: grandma, potatoes, Thanksgiving, turkey
cold turkey thaws in filled sink,
every year bigger butterball bird;
add honey ham to feed multitude
by marriage, births, or invitation.
gathered ingredients weeks ahead
cheesy baked corn aroma wafts up
daughter-in-love will make pies or
dinner rolls to bring to feast while
grandma feels a bit overwhelmed by
her family blessings and potato skins;
wipes tearful prayers on fresh apron.
doggone
31 Mar 2021 17 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: dog, grandma, laundry, treadmill
at the museum in
murdo, south dakota
(around the corner from
a life-size jar jar binks)
stands antique treadmill
not for human exercise
but built in miniature for
dog trained on laundry
duty to run the wheel
tied to belt on agitator
of old washing machine
just like grandma used—
funny how that memory
was jogged, grandma’s
story of how the family
dog would often hide
on monday mornings.
photo by lynn
Linking to De’s “laundry” prompt at dVerse Poets…
i did!
04 May 2020 24 Comments
in quadrille Tags: bubble, cell phone, goats, grandma, silly
Lillian invites us to lighten up and get a bit silly at dVerse poets’ pub tonight 🙂
did you ever leave cell phone behind,
family must ring your number to find?
did you ever blow gum bubble in space,
stretch it bigger till it burst in your face?
did you ever play three gruff goats billy,
game with granddaughters giggling silly?
“Grandma” by Ruth
unfrazzled
12 Aug 2019 24 Comments
in quadrille, Uncategorized Tags: children, grandma, great aunt, obedience, respect, voice
Grandma, 
who bore seven children,
rambunctious and noisy,
marveled
over my great aunt,
who raised six children,
so well-behaved
that following a meal
she would direct them
once
in a very soft voice…
they would immediately
clear the table
and
wash the dishes.
A quadrille (poem of exactly 44 words) for dVerse Poets Pub with De.
discipline
17 Jun 2019 17 Comments
in quadrille, Uncategorized Tags: child, cousins, fret, grandma, lesson, tantrum
little buddy red-
faced, setting the stage
to fly into kicking and sweating rage
wiser granny said-
stop your fretting, my child
there’s no use getting unruly riled
now go to bed-
buddy, until lesson you learn
to let kissing cousins have a turn!
Quadrille (44-word poem) including the word “fret”… with Kim at dVerse Poets
still life
25 Jul 2018 1 Comment
in tanka Tags: attic, bouquet, dresser, grandma, lily of valley, vase
exploring attic
reclaim grandma’s old dresser
drawers of mementos
from her youthful adventures
lily of valley bouquet
shy century
05 Jun 2018 5 Comments
in senryu, tanka Tags: birthday, cake, century, grandma, heaven, party
hoped to celebrate
grandma’s one hundredth birthday
but she passed away…
left us behind with no cake
she’s partying in heaven!
Elsie’s 100th tanka challenge at Ramblings of a Writer. My dear Grandma Gertie nearly reached 100 years…can you imagine living for a century?
lil’ lincoln logger
27 Mar 2014 14 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: boy, grandma, grandpa, lincoln
energetic blond boy invades our home
it’s so much fun the second time around
he dumps out all the legos on the floor
then drives his toy backhoe across the couch
he brings grandma another book to read
next climbs in grandpa’s lap to eat popcorn
his uncles he adores; follows footsteps
pulls on his boots (wrong feet) to go outdoors
he likes to chase the cats or moo at cows
he’s happy when he’s playing in the dirt
by day’s end we’re all ready for our beds
he reaches out to hug our necks goodnight!
_________
*”blank verse” (no rhyme) written in iambic pentameter (see MTB with Tony at d’Verse)
don’t ask the color of my hair
13 Mar 2013 2 Comments
in Uncategorized Tags: grandma
I think I must be younger than I am;
Still looking for a mirror that’s wrinkle free.
Hey, only special peeps may call me Gram.
I really do not need the “senior discount” plan,
Send back those letters from A.A.R.P.!
I think I must be younger than I am.
Adults who call me Grandma? I take it “like a man”
but wonder whether they can count to three!
‘Cuz only special peeps may call me Gram.
Kids fill the house with music; it’s time for us to jam.
Can chaos and commotion inspire poetry?
I think I must be younger than I am.
Blond boy and baby girl, sweetest members of our fam,
Come snuggle in my arms or re-read books across my knee.
Yes, only special peeps may call me Gram.
So many birthday candles? I just cannot understand.
My truest friends are winking because they all agree,
I really must be younger than I am,
And only special peeps may call me Gram!
a poem in my pocket 
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