Granny Apple Sky (Memories of My Grandmother Furtak)
Stretching high overhead, when I
Felt something pinch my bare toe.
A hen had mistook it for a bug.
Clucking and scolding, she wandered off.
Grandma wore a Babushka over
Her hair. Her gentle smile was lovely
To me as she spread her home-baked
Bread with a thick layer of
Strawberry preserves. She made them
From the wild strawberries that grew
In the fields. She never said
A word to me, She just handed
Me the bread. She spoke to my
Mother in Polish. She said I
Should eat it under the Crab Apple
Tree. A large bowl of peas to be shelled
Sat beside me, and were needed for lunch.
A few months later, I saw grandma
Again. She lay at rest in a
Casket. Her best Babushka covered
Her hair. Her worn, stiff fingers
Clasped a rosary to her chest.
I felt like I had a piece of Crab
Apple stuck in my throat.
Tears trickled down my cheeks. Perhaps
They would wash away the bitterness
I felt within. Now the Granny Apple sky
Looked more like Crab Apple blossoms.
I hoped Heaven had ovens
So Grandma would be able to
Bake lots of Babka and Bread.
Published by Mary Naylor confirmed
I was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1933. I grew up in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, a wild and beautiful state, rich in literature and lore. I loved the stories of Paul Bunyon and his ox, Babe. The hoax of t... View profile
- "Six Feet Under" is Gone but Not ForgottenLike an old friend, "Six Feet Under" has withstood the test of time.
- Memories of Christmas Gone but Not ForgottenBeing a child and having an alcoholic father, our Christmas wasn't a normal holiday. We really appreciated the small things, like being together, as a family.
The Old Silver Club: Gone, but Not ForgottenBob did not understand what had happened. Twenty years ago, the best memory of his life took place at The Silver Club. Where, and when, did it go?- Michael Jackson, Gone but Not ForgottenMichael Jackson ranks with Elvis, Sinatra, the Beatles and Rolling Stones as music icons. A year after his death, we should remember him most for his music and not his personal struggles.
- Real ID: Gone but Not ForgottenDoes Blizzard/Activision deserve my trust? Not at the moment.
- "Gone, but Not Forgotten" (2003): A Very Low-budget, Gay Romance with Good Cast (...
- NFL Stars: Gone but Not Forgotten
- Power to the People; "Two Power Companies, Two Towns Gone, but Not Forgotten"
- Grief: Those Gone but Not Forgotten
- 2011 Oscar Countdown: In Memory of Stars Gone but Not Forgotten
- Bernie Mac: Gone but Not Forgotten
- ColecoVision: Gone but Not Forgotten
5 Comments
Post a CommentLast remembrances can leave a permanent signature.
Aww, how sweet this is! Thanks for a great poem!
Such very dear memories, your poem touches my heart... I could see those Granny Apple days of yours... so very special, a very tender tribute Mary and a stunning poem that made me think of how much I miss my parents and Grandparents....thank you!
Beautifully eloquent, deeply expressive, and wonderfully poetic. Thanks!
This is such a touching tribute. I could picture this dear woman so clearly, and get a sense of her gentle character from what you have written. I believe there are ovens in heaven just for the Grandmother Furtaks who distributed love with their gifts of food. rcj