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Open Poetry #11
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A Century Ago
| Open Poetry #11 |
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A Century Ago |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State 
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December ninth Nineteen Hundred Just short of the festive New Year The mark of a life brand new Named Sylvia, so sweet and dear William McKinley, the 25th president On the date of her entrance grand Seventeen presidents later....... Bill Clinton is at the stand She watched Hitler rise and fall She lived the Great Depression She was shocked to hear of murderers On their serial killing obsessions From World War One to Desert Storm She lived to see them all She watched the Wall of Berlin As it took it’s final fall She went from having no Television To watching ships fly off into space Neil Armstrong walks on the moon And robots on mars looking for a face She watched as Kennedy was shot And when his presidency was replaced And now as votes are recounted again She waits to see who wins this years race She raised her own little family And her children all now grown She has several great grandchildren With children of their own December Ninth, Two Thousand Marks another special date Sylvia, my Great Grandmother Has One Hundred years to Celebrate For my grandmother who has seen it all Through the good times and the bad I wish you the best of Birthdays Grandma… May it be the best you’ve ever had. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` I often wonder what it must have been like for her to watch all of these changes trough out the years. It's amazing to me to think of ALL the things she's seen and lived through. ~Sheri "The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first" |
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| © Copyright 2000 Sheri - All Rights Reserved | |||
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serenity blaze Member Empyrean
since 2000-02-02
Posts 27738 |
Sheri? I often think on this...and sometimes wonder what tales WE will have to tell...and then I get scared and quit thinking...lol A thoughtful work here...you made me miss MY grandma...and I think I'll go see my mom and dad t'morrow, too. HUGS, you. |
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JamesMichael Member Empyrean
since 1999-11-16
Posts 33336Kapolei, Hawaii, USA |
Nice the way you put this together...and thats a lot of birthdays...hope your grandma has a good one...James |
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Janet Marie Member Laureate
since 2000-01-22
Posts 18554 |
Sheri this is wonderful... a perfect and fitting tribute to your Grandmother ... yes..what must she think seeing so many changes in the world... the wisdom she holds... Happy B-day to her thanks for sharing her with us  very sweet take care jm I looked into the sky for my anthem The words and music came through But words and music can never touch the beauty that I've seen Looking into you |
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Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Sheri - Your work is absolutely wonderful.. I have to say, that I've had pretty much the exact same feelings about my own grandmother. My Grammie Anderson is ONLY 97, however... I did write the same poem for her though (last year)... I have to share it with you - I hope you enjoy mine as much as I've enjoyed yours... GMTA...(great minds think alike)..  Perspective seen through centenarian eyes Replete with visions time cannot disguise. Our blessing still is your sagacious smile, A hundred years ~ forgetful now, but.wise. Nine decades past a Finnish child gleams Vast riches lay in "Great American Dreams." Once seventeen, alone at Ellis Isle No limits hence, resplendent U.S. seems. Your days have seen the horse before the cart Gas lanterns e'er we knew electric start ~ Since "Model-T's" you'd sooner walk a mile. From Kitty Hawk, "Endeavor's" worlds apart. As Prohibition challenged freedom's tole The "Roaring 20's" yield to "Rock 'n' Roll". New-fangled gadgets ne'er befit your style Simplicity, without remote control. A toiler through the days of suffragette. From radio to "color" TV set, And telegraph to bustling cell-phone dial, Now ICQ on world-wide internet In constant strife, our politics five score Whence numbered I or II, a Great World War Descried "Depression", "Holocaust" in heil, Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Our presidents, of forty-two you've seen Each one of nineteen hundred's seventeen; With JFK your favorite all the while Great leaders slain for "civil rights" demean. Your family's most important to your life You proudly bore three young as Olof's wife. Lone son you've lost, yet his your eighth grandchild. Twelve greats, three great-greats, each one borne your rife. Today's applaud your independent stealth In quest of late undaunted elder's health With innate spirit challenge can't defile Or quell eyes yearn-in-stilled old dreams of wealth Your riches now your great-great grandchildren. Our prayer for you, dear Grammie Anderson, Perspective with a centenarian smile, To see as well the new millennium. |
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Sunshine
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-25
Posts 63354Listening to every heart |
Irie, please give your grandmother a happy birthday from me...both your poem, and Nan's, is a chronicle of stories and times that lives within their hearts, and will never be explained fully as to the impact of the times, as cut and dried as it is in the history books. Garner all you can from her...she will give your pen wings... Hugs, Karilea If I whisper, will you listen?... I would rather be silent and write, than speak loudly and be bound. KRJ |
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Poet deVine
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-26
Posts 22612Hurricane Alley |
What a wonderful tribute! I hope you listen to her stories and enjoy her perspective on life...  |
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Sven
since 1999-11-23
Posts 14937East Lansing, MI USA |
Perfect Sheri!! What a wonder. . . to think how it's all shone to her. . .you've captured it wonderfully here. . . A Happy Birthday to her. . .  ------------------------------------------------------ That which gives light must endure burning --Victor Frankl |
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Victoria
since 2000-08-12
Posts 5869 |
Things are so easy today..microwave dinners and self cleaning ovens haa...women really had to be strong in those days..as im sure your grandma was...Hope she has a wonderful birthday HUGS..enjoyed your poem ~Victoria~ A poem is never finished, only abandoned. - Paul Valery (1871-1945) |
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Bbuzz Member
since 1999-12-17
Posts 76Washinton State |
Great Poem, sweetie! I can only imagine going from bears and cougars in the backyard to microwaves and computers! |
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Irie Senior Member
since 1999-12-01
Posts 1493Washington State |
Serenity It is a scary thought isn't it. I'm sorry to have made you miss your grandma. I hope you have wonderful memories as I do. Have a GREAT visit with your parents. Hugs right back at ya' James I so much wanted to write something more along the lines of great and loving memories....but I just couldn't get over all the things she watched change. JM Off the changes I found my self giggling today when I realized that she has no idea what the internet is. If I tried to explain it to her, I don't think she'd believe me. And yes...she carries much wisdom! Nan What a wonderful and sweet poem. I'm so glad you shared this. It's amazing the things that have changed isn't it. Wonder what it would have been like to live back in those days. SunShine Ths history books give us the facts, but our Grandparents, and Greats, help us live it and give us a more personal insight. And speaking of pens and wings. She loves to write and has written a book or two and a few poems to boot. I think I might post a few of them for her here. Sharon Her stories are amazing to listen to, well, used to be. She has a hard time speaking these days. Her perspective on life makes me realize that the things that I worry about are so petty. Life was so simple in her day. Sven I'm so happy you think so. It is a wonder isn't it? Victoria I imagine the oven she had growing up was a real wood burning stove. A Classic! And that woman can make Sweedish Hotcakes like no one's business, in a cast iron skillet to boot. She used to make a HUGE stack of them for all of us when I was growing up. Oh, they were good. Hugs toy ou too and I'm glad you enjoyed. Bbuzz Mom, I'm sure she still thinks of a computer as a GIANT machine that takes up an entire room! Many, Many thank to all of you for your replies..... We celebrated her Birthday today and she couldn't have been happier. I told her that many of my friends wished her a Wonderful 100th Birthday. I'm going to let this thread go a few more days then print it and take it to her! You are all wonderful....Thank you! ~Sheri "The things that come to those that wait may be the things left by those who got there first" |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
My my this is a tribute grand to such a grand lady...I really think this is excellent and you are to be commended....I've lost my grand parents but they went through all the same changes...and it was quite a century wasn't it? ......fine job on this!! may your grandmother have many more and God bless her! ..............ethome |
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lucky Senior Member
since 2000-01-17
Posts 1601Idaho |
Yes my dear, happy birthday is so many times all's there is to offer. We'll probably never know just exactly what that means until we've reach their age. I have to say I love your heart for the things your writing now, and as far as both of us are concerned... I pray we'll be able to see as "she" sees now and the love you offer in writing as only you know how. love and prayers dale |
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devina Member Elite
since 1999-10-28
Posts 3539Cali |
*Devina sneaks in a bit late* This is perfect sweetie, I might be late, but at least I'm here... You surely have captured it well!! Take care girl!!Open arms can be the most fragile in the world... |
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