Grandma's House

A poem in remembrance of the house that I grew up in.

In the house

Where I grew up

There was chaos

But there was love

.

Open door

Friends of all ages

Family dropping in

Dining room table, the hub

One minute, dinner

The next, a card game

Laughs and conversation

Fill the air

.

Almost never quiet

Often too loud

The smell of cookies

Or a roast in the oven

.

Christmas time

Dozens of bodies

Yes, drinks a flowing

A sea of wrapping paper.

.

Always the house

On the block

Next to a bar

Where everyone seemed to gather

.

In the center of it all

A feisty little woman

Gray hair

Sarcastic comments a plenty

.

Never lots of money

Always lots of love

Unspoken love

Where you just knew

.

Then one day

A fall

To the hospital

They found cancer

.

All those days she smoked

Quit years before

Damage was done

She knew before she was told

.

83 years

Never one single tear

This tough woman

She was ready

.

Nursing home

Called at work

Struggling for breath

I broke down and cried

.

This was the end

Said our goodbyes

Last laughs

I love yous

.

21 years have passed

I still hear the laughter

Smell the cookies

Feel the love

.

But never once

Did she say

‘I love you’

We just knew.