GRANDMA HAMLOR

Greetings my viewers this was written in memory of my late grandmother. I wrote to, read at the next family reunion but getting emotional after every reading I think I'll refrain from that idea :). I just received an inspirational poem from mom along with a certificate of my son's highest academic average. With all of these things mentioned along with my current situation. I'm going to have a pretty rough day if not days!
"Grandma Hamlor"
I grew up without my father that wasn't good,
forcing mom to do whatever she could;

Growing up I could never understand,
How a woman's strength could equal or exceed a man's;

Now mom's single in the 60s
With four of her own,
In that day and time how could she make it alone;

Of course she seeked help from next of kin,
Being alone Grandma Hamlor stepped in,

Wow, this is great could this really be,
Ignorant to the things that I would forsee;

In a three bedroom trailor
Down a Long Dirt road.
Still too young to see the up coming load;

A short time passed now it's time for school,
Still not wise to the ways of rural;

Grandma said you're in school
It's time for a chore
She must not know I'm daddy's baby boy;

We all took turns carrying water from the spring,
When cloths were washed there was much more to bring;

On Grandma outside chores we were allowed to walk,
No matter what she did we were allowed to talk;

Always giving advice of what's right from wrong
Usually giving examples that went along;

Grandma allowed us pets some from astray
Not knowing you could show compassion in that way;

Later my chores turned into jobs,
Now I'm convinced I'm working too hard;

With rebellion would come discipline,
The more I rebelled the more grandma would send;
Walking that long dirt road catching the bus,
I decided I'd had enough;

Grandma's chickens, hog and two gardens
Enough to make anyone person harden;

In many ways we offered Grandma assistance,
But the last thing she needed was a grandchild's resistance;

Preparing meals on a daily base
Grandma enhancing her guaranteed grace;

I graduated and couldn't wait to leave the area,
Leaving grandma like a bad case of malaria;

I respect the rastas and their way of thinking,
Using their methods my thoughts began sinking,
With an enhanced deep thought
I thought about,
How I went to the military
And things didn't work out;

I thought of the first grade to graduation,
Intensely analyzing the situation;

Slowly seeing my ignorance and how my vision's been obscure,

As my thoughts progressed my eyes became blurred;

From: Our makeshift farm
To: Our single alarm
From: Telling us when to go
To: Our A.M. Radio
From: Our dogs and cats
To: Not tolerating rats
From: Our 9 o'clock curfew
To: Our flower garden's view
From: Attending Sunday school
To: How to identify a fool
From: Telling us how to sit
To: Ways to remember not to forget.
From: Being a parent and grandparent
To: Keeping our morals and ethics current
From: The many ways she dealt with tension
To: All of the things in mention

Still deep in thought I began to pray,
Father will you help me with a depth I can't pay;

Days later I received a call,
Grandma had a new home two story and all;

Yet she's all alone and needs someone to help her,
I was packed before evening supper;

Days of guilt began to release,
Though still not totally at peace;
I can't remember a lot of
That particular place,
I can remember the many
Smiles on her face;

There were certain times I
Felt overrated,

Yet every second of the day
I felt appreciated.

We all know good things must come to an end,
Goodbye Grandma Hamlor my parent and my friend

6/1/11