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Lola

Published by broussardlana on January 25, 2016

Lola was not 5 foot tall
but she stood above
everyone else I’ve met
in this life
Her parents, born in Florida
grew up in the
mists, marshes and muckiness
of the Everglades
Hot and dripping
that excrucible wet heat
summers you’d remember, alright
Her grandmother Mary
looking for berries
in the woods
stepped on a log
that became an alligator
Mary’s brother, quick with
a hefty branch
saved her from death
but not the life-long limp
Florida people
left the saltly wetlands
went west to Texas
in search of new life
and new land to farm
My grandmother was
the second of 14 kids
born in 1900
started washing dishes early
learned to cook
the southern way
Sat in the 3rd pew
of the 1st Baptist Church on Sundays
quoted scripture
judged no one
loved everyone
respected her own
malicious mother
sat backseat to all her sisters
took what was leftover
cherished her father’s love
forgave her hateful mother
reminded me to always
respect mine
gave what she had
all she could afford
to help those
who needed so much more
Married a man
she didn’t love
to care for his kids
then there was more kids
all needing her
Witnessed happiness and heartbreak
unfold all throughout the
20th century, 100 years old
watched death pass her
as it took a son and grandchildren
watched children grow up and leave
Second marriage when she was 80 years old
loved a dog named Spot
fed him ice cream
When she could no longer
traverse her own kitchen
to make dinner rools
the size of saucers
and wash all those dishes
Sunday dinners fell to the side
nobody understands anymore
the meaning of a family
Sunday after church
pot roast, mashed potatoes,
blackeye peas, chocolate cake
all done right
Her days became longer
sitting on her sofa
looking out that front window
waiting for that eventual sunset
stirring her memories around
like a fruit pie filling
mixing the sour berries
in with the sweet
Lola bridge one

Published inMemoirpoetryPoetry

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  6. reocochran reocochran

    I got to crying, really more than tears, Lana. Your grandmother was such a sweet, almost like Cinderella, in her giving, cleaning and taking care of someone else’s children. I like the size her delicious rolls! 🙂 Hope she found happy moments in amidst a lot of hard times. I am glad her father made up for her mean mother! This was a great portrait of a saintly woman, Lana. ♡

    # January 28, 2016
    • L. T. Garvin, Author L. T. Garvin, Author

      Thanks Robin, my grandmother and I were pretty tight, and although she did have some bad times, she had some good ones too. Her father really was great and her mother was truly unreal. I have some other stories on her mother… I lost this grandmother when I was forty, and it was really tough as I had her all my life at that point, she was very special to me. I write about both my grandmothers quite a bit, maybe even too much 🙂

      # January 28, 2016
      • reocochran reocochran

        There are no rules about how many times you focus on someone. You may be on the path to a memoir or historical tribute to your grandmother. She was definitely a blessing in your life and your love and admiration for her must have lifted her spirits, too. Lana, I was close to my grandfather and loved both my grandma’s. I wish I had so much time as you were able to have with your grandmother. 🙂

        # February 1, 2016
        • L. T. Garvin, Author L. T. Garvin, Author

          I was lucky with her living so long, I sure miss talking to her, I guess I always will. My other grandmother was also a huge blessing in my life, she passed away when I was 10. This was also very difficult as it was my first experience of loosing a loved one. Grandfathers are wonderful too, glad you were also blessed. You sound like an amazing grandmother yourself, Robin. 🙂 hugs…..

          # February 1, 2016

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