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Open Poetry #47
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divine chaos
Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon

0 posted 2011-08-14 09:54 PM




Grandpa  spins yarns for me
about growin’ up in a tiny country town
Without television or telephones
Spendin’ their days
Swingin’ on grapevines
Splashin’ in the swimmin’ hole
Drivin’ deliveries from the general store
Workin’ hard on the farm
Walkin’ to school in winter
Uphill
Both ways.

Grandpa weaves stories about
How they played Cowboys and Indians
Burned a sister at the stake
(though the wildling escaped
before flames licked flesh)
Hung her once, too,
From great grandma’s chandelier
Right there in the livin’ room!
But she was a feisty one
lived to a ripe old age
In spite of her brothers
And loved them fiercely

I smile
Laughin’ with every tellin’

I pick up grandpa's yarn
and start spinnin' it for my daughter
About growin’ up in a tiny country town
with no computer, Playstation
Or cell phone
Spendin’ my days
Runnin' from rowdy roosters
Battlin' chargin' heifers
Chasin’ twinklin’ fireflies
And walkin’ dusty country roads
Uphill
Both ways

~Sheli~

You've never really traveled if you've never been lost.

© Copyright 2011 Sheli Carmichael - All Rights Reserved
OwlSA
Member Rara Avis
since 2005-11-07
Posts 9347
Durban, South Africa
1 posted 2011-08-15 12:31 PM


Much enjoyed Grandpa's and Granddaughter's yarns!

Owl

divine chaos
Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon
2 posted 2011-08-15 01:20 PM


Thankies Miss Owl, I love my grandfather's yarns too He had 11 brothers and sisters, and numerous cousins and neighbors that lived with them as well -- over the years I've had the privilege and pleasure to hear many yarns from the majority of them.

~Sheli~

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

Dark Stranger
Member Patricius
since 2001-03-19
Posts 13631
West Coast
3 posted 2011-08-16 06:23 AM


the yarn is always greener on the other side of the yawn...

enjoyed it SR

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate
since 2000-10-29
Posts 19200
Between the Lines
4 posted 2011-08-16 08:04 AM


smiling because my generation is already talking about how did we ever get along without cell phones as an extension of your hand, etc...smiling, but my Grandfather's yarns were about coming to America ,  no cars yet, electricity etc...they are always enjoyable to listen to.  

Nicely done!
M

JerryPat2
Member Laureate
since 2011-02-06
Posts 16975
South Louisiana
5 posted 2011-08-16 08:27 AM


Loved this. I am of your grandfather's age I imagine, because I did all of those things, uphill both ways. Had no sister to burn at the stake, drat, so I used the little girl from down the road. She, too escaped, and I could never understand, after she began to fill out and I began to take notice of her in a different way, that she would never give me the time of day.

~ I knew drugs weren't the answer. I just had to find out for myself. ~

Word Weaver
Member
since 2011-03-06
Posts 437
California, USA
6 posted 2011-08-16 12:41 PM


I really enjoyed this. It brought back so many memories. One of them is that the older my grandfather got the further he had to walk to school.

Peace,

Marcia
www.thewritingforum.net


divine chaos
Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon
7 posted 2011-08-18 12:25 PM


DS:  glad ya enjoyed, darlin’   

M:  My stepfather’s grandparents spun those same kind of yarns – coming from Czechoslavakia on a boat .. but my grandpa’s are about the farm and about his hayseed of a self seeing the great wide world in the Air Force after growing up in a town of maybe 400   I love listening to all the stories, too.

JerryPat:  LOL!  My grandfather and his 11 brothers & sisters, as well as assorted cousins and neighbors, played very rough all the time.  Listening to them tell all their stories together at reunions was the highlight of my summer when I was growing up!

Marcia:  Isn’t it funny how the distance to school got to crazy lengths?  I’m sure my daughter will be saying the same thing one of these days about me LOL  So glad you enjoyed!

~Sheli~

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

suthern
Deputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Seraphic
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723
Louisiana
8 posted 2011-08-18 03:45 PM


I love this!! And I really grinned at the Uphill both ways... I've seen where my Dad grew up and it's flatter than a pancake... but all those hikes to school were uphill!
Marchmadness
Member Rara Avis
since 2007-09-16
Posts 9271
So. El Monte, California
9 posted 2011-08-19 01:54 AM


I do love your poetry, DC, and find myself searching for your latest post.
                        Ida

katahdin
Senior Member
since 2010-07-01
Posts 1196
ME. In the Shadow of the Mt.
10 posted 2011-08-19 01:57 AM


Loved it uphill both ways! LOL
Kat >^..^<

jwesley
Member Rara Avis
since 2000-04-30
Posts 7563
Spring, Texas
11 posted 2011-08-19 06:10 AM


I truly enjoy your writing my friend, and this one just as much.

j.

Margherita
Member Seraphic
since 2003-02-08
Posts 22236
Eternity
12 posted 2011-08-19 06:53 AM


quote:
Runnin' from rowdy roosters



haha ... something I experienced too!

A wonderful poem, dear Sheli, to enjoy deeply. Lucky you to have this Grandpa and lucky your daughter who will always delight in your stories.

There is great need to learn about a simpler life and to rediscover the charm of it.

Love,
Margherita

divine chaos
Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon
13 posted 2011-08-27 11:09 PM


Suthern:  LOL .. I think that the uphill thing is a global thing.  Everywhere was uphill and the schools were apparently mobile, since the hikes got longer with each telling!  

Miss Ida:  So glad you enjoy my little pennings.  I hope these will be the beginning of a bout of inspiration.  I haven’t written for so long, I was a bit afraid I’d forgotten how!

Kat:  Glad ya enjoyed!!  

Jwesley:  So glad ya enjoyed =) Thanks for dropping by to read!

Margherita:  I used to rale against the simple life when I was young, but I look back now and am thankful that I grew up the way I did, a simple country life.   My pleasures are simple even now as a result of that upbringing – I can’t think of a better way to live

~Sheli~

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

Alison
Deputy Moderator 5 ToursDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 TourDeputy Moderator 1 Tour
Member Rara Avis
since 2008-01-27
Posts 9318
Lumpy oatmeal makes me crazy!
14 posted 2011-08-27 11:18 PM


Sheli,

I love this and I love that you tell your baby girl ( ) stories like your Grandpa told you.  You knit real good, you know.

xoxoxo
Ali

divine chaos
Senior Member
since 2006-07-09
Posts 617
dancing 'neath the moon
15 posted 2011-08-27 11:28 PM


I thought you might like this one   I love telling her stories .. she thinks they're hysterical for the most part lol

~Sheli~

Speak your mind even if your voice shakes

Prasad Nataraj
Senior Member
since 2008-05-29
Posts 1149
Bangalore,India
16 posted 2011-08-29 02:38 AM


Fine writing, such beautiful scenes to enjoy here.  

"The secret behind survival of mankind is kindness and love within our hearts"
prasadnatarajan5.blogspot.com/

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