Do not weep for me
for I have experienced a lifetime of joy
the sounds of birthing
the squeals of jubilant voices.
Do not weep for me
for I have felt the vibrations of storms
and weathered through them with dignity.
I have witnessed the changing of seasons
and watched the children have children.
I have seen the fruits gathered and shared by many hands.
I have smelled the soups of wellness upon a cookstove,
freshly cut grass at my entrance,
and the rain both distant and near.
I have experienced these things and more.
Do not weep for me.
Weep for the forlorn.
via Forlorn
When I lay dying upon my bed
when only past then lays ahead
With only farewell’s left to bid
I will not say, “I almost did.”
When sheets are warm but cold within
reflecting back on what has been
all the times of profound gladness
I will not say, “I almost had this.”
The ripples of my life to fade
I’ll leave a message well conveyed
as light turns dark from setting sun
I will not say, “I almost won.”
photo credit
via Almost
… her granddaughter smiles. “Mom, when will Bad Ass Grandma come back from her vacation?”
“What’s so funny?”
“Thinking about what she did. She lifted one leg over something I couldn’t see then ran round and round while bouncing up and down.”
“Why …”
“She sang,
‘Round and round up and down
on the carousel horses.
Up and down, round and round
as the music plays.
The lights on top they shine so bright
as we go round and round
use your hands to hold on tight
as we go up and down.’
Then she sang it over and over again.”
“Yes, your grandmother is quite extravagant with her imagination. Was she still wearing a pony tail?”
Granddaughter laughed and trotted back to her room, saying, “I hope she’ll be home soon. She promised me the moon.”
via Extravagant
Note: From the last post, you may have gathered that Bad Ass Grandma needed a break from the holiday hoopla. As a result, she has packed her bag and is beginning her travels. After receiving her letters, I gather her first stop is the art museum.
She’s much too serious and no fun at all
and the man? Well, besides being skinny and tall,
he carries a weapon perhaps out of fear
I confess –
there’s no way in hell that I’d want to stay here.
via Confess
I’m back in the sixties
They called me ‘Peacenik’
The stars were alive
and the smoke, it was thick!
There is no proclivity for cleaning the house
at least not for bad ass grandma
she’d rather spend time making a mess
it’s something she fervently plans on.
via Proclivity
He was mild in his manner
and sound in his ways?
Perhaps, but
‘Twas his creative spirit
that was worthy of praise
from my “Ben” series
via Mild
The vastness of the wheat in field
rich soil lays beneath?
No, Layer upon layers splay
To cover up the heath.
Who knows the truth I ask of you
Profound, I tell you this!
Uncovered, unexpected,
Lies a masquerade of bliss.
-CDW
(if these words sound familiar it’s because I posted it a while back and not because it’s a famous poem 🙂 )
photo credit
via Bliss
Badda Assa Grandma
went to the boxing gym
She wrapped her hands, stuck on her gloves, ready to begin
Just as the trainer held up his pads
her specs slipped down so low
she thought she’d jabbed the target
but she’d hit him on the nose.
photoshopped by CDW
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 
