left to right: grandma at age 72; grandma holding my younger son; grandma holding me as a baby; grandma and grandpa one Christmas.
To Grandma
Her name means little free man.
A little woman, she was not free,
in tether to home, ills, and pills;
yet clan flocked to her oasis for
coffee, cards, laughs; to recall; to forget.
She gently worked rats from my hair
and tucked me in under feather tick.
Today’s Kwansaba form poem is also a Praise poem to my maternal grandmother. She was a lively little woman who stood four foot ten. Born of Irish and French Canadian heritage, she was raised in a lumber camp in Northern Michigan. She always made me feel loved.
This is the final dVerse prompt for 2021. We are on a holiday break until January 3, 2022. Wishing every person reading this a blessed rest of the year. See you at the poets pub again in 2022.
Grace is today’s host of dVerse’ final Meet the Bar for 2021. Grace says:
Kwansaba is an African American verse form of praise. The Kwansaba, (swahili kwan- first fruit /saba-principle) was created in 1995 by Eugene B Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate and professor of English at Southern Illinois University-East St. Louis. The form was developed in honor of the celebration of Kwanzaa . The poetic form adopts the number 7 from Kwanzaa’s Nguzo Saba (7 principles) as well as embraces its roots in the South African tradition of the Praise Poem.
•Unity, family
•Self Determination
•Work Collectively
•Cooperative economics
•Purpose
•Creativity
•Faith
The defining features of Kwansaba are:
•a celebration of family and African-American culture, a praise poem.
•a septastich, a poem in 7 lines.
•measured by 7 words in each line.
•written with no word exceeding 7 letters.
Today’s writing challenge: You have 2 options: 1) write a Kwansaba poem using the guidelines as described above, or 2) write a response poem to David Whyte’s Blessing for Light and Blessing for Sound poems.
Tao Talk 
This is so lovely, Lisa. She would have loved this, for sure!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale, I still miss her so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you mean. Mine died in 2009. sigh…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like Kate said, why do they have to leave so soon :(
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mine was 92… She had a series of strokes in her last year, otherwise, I swear, she would have hung around longer.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw, Dale, I’m sorry the strokes got her. My grandma was tough in spirit yet frail in body. She unfortunately got into a car accident on a trip out of state with my uncle and never recovered from it :( I think she would have lived significantly longer without that happening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Everyone needs a special grandmother! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is such a sweet poem for your special grandmother. I love how the clan flocks to her oasis. I also appreciate the photos – so precious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Grace. She passed on shortly after the pics with my son were taken. Glad she was able to meet him and hold him <3
LikeLike
I love this praise for your grandmother… it’s lovely, and those pictures as priceless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 Thank you.
LikeLike
For me it was my maternal grandfather, he was the sun and the moon to me. Your poem is precious, priceless, poignant. My grandparents on my (newly-found) father’s side, I was never to meet, but my new cousins and one uncle filled me in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 Glenn, I firmly believe if a child has just one person in their life that genuinely cares for them, they will survive and become human. I'm so glad your maternal grandfather was there for you. I loved my grandpa also. He was more of the stoic but he loved me in his own way also.
LikeLike
what a loving tribute to a tiny powerful grandmother so prominent in your life … grandparents are so special but they go too soon …
LikeLiked by 1 person
thank you, Kate, and yes :(
LikeLiked by 1 person
:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is absolutely beautiful, Lisa! I can feel the love and warmth in your words :)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, dear Sanaa.
LikeLike
To make someone feel loved–that is a gift and a blessing. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Deeply moving write Lisa — tender. Happiest of holidays to you and yours my friend, and every blessing in the new year! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Rob, and Happy Holidays to You and Yours as well <3
LikeLike
Grandmothers are special, you characterize her well in so few words, here. Her smile says so much as well! Happy Holidays, friend! 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Tricia. I hope one day to see her smile again. Happy Holidays!
LikeLiked by 1 person
💓
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a sweet tribute to your grandmother Li.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sadje.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLike
Tender and lovely. Loved.
Happy Holidays. xoxoxo 🌲
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, Selma!
LikeLike
A beautiful poem in your dear grandmother’s honor…thanks for sharing this tender write and photos!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lynn, happy you enjoyed the tribute and the photos.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful tribute and precious photos, thank you for sharing. Happy Holidays!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Irene. I miss my grandma. Writing the tribute brought her back to me for a moment <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful photos! Your poem brings back loving memories of your grandma! <3
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much, Barbara. She was so tiny, even holding babies was a challenge. I have to say my son and I were both big babies, but still…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your grandma Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Petru :)
LikeLike
🙋🏻♀️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gentle, lovely .. your poetic reflections are endearing ~~ you loved her so, and now we know. Sending Holiday Cheer your way, Lisa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
<3 Such a wonderful comment, thank you. Thanks and Happy Holidays to You and Yours, Helen.
LikeLike
Nice tribute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Reena! Sorry for late response, just found your comment in my spam folder.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful way of keeping her memories. I was never close to any of my grans. But then my grandfather had 9wives with an average of eight children each. We did have him over for holidays when we were kids. No photos though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jude, if you have family members you are close with you are blessed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Exactly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh, no I’m not taking what I have for granted. Just appreciating your memories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand, no worries, Jude.
LikeLike
May the joy of the season fill your heart here at the closing if the year 2021, and may peace abide in 2022. This is a most difficult time for our planet earth, and a time of turmoil for its peoples. May 2022 begin the way back! ✌🏼❤️🌎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Rob. Sorry for the late response, just found your comment in my spam folder.
LikeLike
Beautiful ❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you :)
LikeLike
your grandma sounds so loving.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was. <3
LikeLike
Such a heartwarming portrait of your grandma through words and pics! ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Punam, thank you. I adored my grandma. She and my grandpa gave me a solid foundation of love and stability as a child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful, Li! Only my maternal grandmother was alive when I was born. But she passed away when I was around ten.
You are so welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“to recall, to forget”– such a beautiful insight!
Reading these poems today makes me regret not participating in the prompt, but as you know, I’ve been having trouble making the words come, lately. It makes your words (and those in the rest of the community) that much more meaningful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alexandra, thank you very much. The words are gathering high in the sky, whirling, swirling, until it is time for them to alight one sunny morning.
Besides, I like the anticipation that is growing for your poem about Ray Donovan :)
Are you getting any snow to speak of in Chicago? We have a dusting right now that lays on the frozen parts of marshes and puddles and along roads, sidewalks, and driveways, but that’s about it.
LikeLike
right now they’re predicting a snow-free December, on top of our snow-free November. At least this year we got rain. Last year it was a desert.
LikeLiked by 1 person