Here's another one for my Grandmother, one of the few poems I wrote with a smile on my face. She took more pictures of my sister and me when we were children than anyone else -- unfortunately, she was also the worst photographer.
Still, the photographs she took always manage to make me grin.
Grandmother's Masterpiece
I just can't help but smile
at this poorly centered snapshot;
you really couldn't take
a decent picture.
Summer sun beat down
upon our brown impromptu crowns,
two rolled-up paper sacks
a bit askew atop our heads.
Dimpled knees peeked out
from hems of homemade cotton gowns
as we posed, our arms akimbo,
by your net-strewn berry patch.
Bright red sticky smears
on both our fingers and our lips
tell the tale of little girls
who ate as many as we picked.
Your slender shadow sneaked
into the lower right-hand corner
and for once I'm very pleased
to see your total lack of skill.
Whether it was shaky hands
or faulty composition,
you managed to create
our family portrait.
© 2004 Robin L. Rotham
11 comments:
You painted a vivid picture with your words. You love for her shines through.
Your critique of her photographing too comes across!
What a wonderful poem, Robin. Grandmother's are the best. :)
"....unfortunately, she was also the worst photographer..."
There is more to a photograph than clarity and composition.
A picture paints a thousand words, and your gran's have done this, yes?
I think I'd have liked your grandmother. At least, as you've painted her here.
Awwww...I love this. Glad you have good memories of her.
You made me cry. Made me miss my Nanny so much. We made snow angels, she was zany. Read romance (got me hooked) and shoped at sex shops for her daughter and daughter in laws stocking stuffers.
My mother had edible underwear given to her yearly.
Beautiful poem Robin.
Great memory. Got me with the "family portrait" most of all.
Thanks.
"She took more pictures of my sister and me when we were children than anyone else -- unfortunately, she was also the worst photographer."
LOL!!
Your poem captures the feeling perfectly, making it easy to 'see' these photos your grandmother took.
wonderful poem Robin!!
and i love that your gram was a very creative photographer! sounds like she captured your childhood much better than if she had everything all orderly and neat.
Oh, thank you, everyone! Lisa's comment reminded me how much my grandmother hated having her picture taken. I think that's why she's hardly in any of them, and why her shadow being in the picture is so wonderfully telling -- she was always an integral part of the scene, even when she was behind the scenes.
You know, what's funny, Rhian, is that her house and yard were always immaculate. She wanted her house to be perfect, so she had Mr. Rainwater come from the furniture store to arrange her furniture and art work so that all the rooms presented a pleasing picture.
And yet she wasn't fussy when we girls came over and made a mess. She was a wonderful grandmother.
Wonderful poem. And such nice memories to have.
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