The Spotlight issue 1 November / December 2013 | Page 62

An Ode To Grandma

She was the epitome of strength

to my child's mind, she was tall

flawless brown skin and an infectious laugh

and she cooked like nobody's business

my mouth lived for those moments of "taste this"

when teeth and tongue would marvel at the flavor

and send a message to my stomach to prepare food was near

but she was non-negotiable when it came to foolishness

her famous words "go and get that switch"

I grew up on ass whoopings and being fussed at, its true

"I'm doing this for your own good, Mama loves you

there were times when she'd go to her fave spot

I'd wait to hear the glasses 'clink', yes she was fixing herself a drink

guess she needed the solution it helped her relax

we may have been cute kids, but we never cut any slack

but she was ours and we were hers, until "C" came to visit

"C" was that guest that nobody wanted

it snuck in places and hung around, watching folks live their life

then at the peak of laughter and happiness it announce its presence

sucking the life out families

but we endured, we gave her our love

through it all she was still our Queen and we, her loyal subjects

never once did she complain, just encouraged us to do whats right

she always sung God's praises, even when she lost a breast and a finger to "C"

she still laughed, and cooked, still danced, and we danced with her

but seeing her take her last breath was the realization that

physically she'd be no more, but her memories lives on

to this date, many years later, I smile

when I find myself using one of her sayings like..

"God never put more on us than we can bear"

Mama, I'm still trying to find out where "Thy Kingdom" come is

It just has to be a place, she was always threatening to knock us into it..lol

To ALL who have lost a GrandMa to Cancer..relive the moments she made you smile

and thank God for allowing you the gift of her life

mine taught me plenty...LG1