Grandma: Mamie "Ann" Burdette Deese
Banana puddin’, creamy and sweet,
Softened cookies set it off just right.
And golden cornbread, with soup or beans
Or butter and honey – mmm, savor every bite!
Fresh corn, right out of the garden,
Juicy tomatoes -- oh! and fried okra, too!
One pan-full for Larry -- I’ll cook another
So there’s some left for you!
Thanksgiving dinners with gravy
And turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes,
Lemon cheesecake after, and choco-dot cake --
Whew! I can chew, but I can’t swallow!
Snappin’ beans and boilin’ lids and jars –
All winter long, we’ll have green beans.
Tomatoes, corn, and okra, makes soup mix --
Eatin’ milk soup with cayenne pepper,
Add salt and crackers and cheese.
Lukewarm coffee – Ugh! That’s stump water!
In my tea? Lots of ice, please!
It’s on “Hi” or “Off” – in the kitchen and in life.
Why do it at all if it’s not at full speed?
Full throttle, give it all you’ve got –
I’m movin’ ahead at full steam.
Piecing a quilt, the fabric and colors,
Block by block, creating a masterpiece.
The Lone Star, Log Cabin, Trip Around the World,
Or I’ll draft my own pattern, each block unique.
Then, with tiny stitches,
All quilted by hand,
A labor of love spread over the frame.
Tucked in tight –now, drift off to dreamland.
A good joke, time spent reminiscing
About fishin’ on the Savannah and floods and tornados.
Puttin’ the doorknob in the chicken’s nest --
Well, the poor snake had stomach woes!
Donald Duck threw a rod and we got in late .
Woke up the preacher, surprised the folks –
And we’ll never forget the date!
Went fishin’ for our honeymoon,
Aunt Annie fixed chicken and coconut cake.
As good as we could make ‘em.
We stayed right there, farmin’
And fishin’, the first year or two.
Then came the War and the draft and the service --
Some long, long years to get through.
Livin’ day to day in Arkansas,
One summer Sunday Janice ran away –
Chased her down the aisle, caught her at the pulpit!
Didn’t stay to hear what the preacher had to say.
Drivin’ back to McCormick on a three day pass
Back during wartime, you see,
You didn’t pass up people in trouble --
Stopped to help anybody in need.
Then Grandpa left, went overseas --
Know what it means to worry??
Write letters till your hand cramps
‘Til your eyes and heart are blurry.
Reunited! 1945 – the last day of the year.
Building a family, a house, and a life
With love and a cross-cut saw;
Raised up my hand when nobody saw --
Kept that vow ‘til the end,
And my cup, it overflowed with blessing,
With love of family and friend.
Playin’ Rummikub, Skipbo, or Carrom,
Chinese checkers and Uno too.
I see the way clear to the other side --
It’s “Eagle Eye’s” last move.
-- AGB
