Grandma's Hands...
Grandma's hands were busy hands
Cooking the whole day through
Watching her hold her fa kanal,
many tasks to do!
Frying and flipping the chicken
in the sizzling skillet of lard
Mixing bouillon and onion into the rice
Maybe cooking wasn't so hard.
Smelling butter and brown sugar
Another pan to clean,
In go the sweet potatoes
Creating a yummy scene!
Filling the boiler with water
Turning up the heat,
Stirring in the salt and green beans
Grandma's flavoring can't be beat!
Grandma's tap-tap-tapping spoon,
Making us all aware,
Leading us to the table
Hearing food would soon be there...
Grandma's hands were serving hands,
Dinner hot and ready,
Bringing food out to the table,
Carrying slow and steady...
Leading us in saying Grace
Hands folded in to pray
Thanking for the delicious food
She labored on all day!
Devouring tasty morsels
Going back for more,
Filling and piling food on our plates
Pallet pleasure to be sure!
Now her spoon, a scraping spoon
Cleaning up the dishes,
Piling up inside the sink
Floating there like fishes...
Grandma's hands were cleaning hands
Washing and putting things away,
Readying the kitchen for a rest
Until the dawn of a new day...
I dedicate this poem to my Grandma Helen Sandor Farkas.
She was always cooking tasty treats for someone...with her fa kanal in hand!
Miss you Grammie! Thanks for all your work...
I never appreciated you as much as I should have while you were here...
What a lovely tribute to your Grammie. Your description allowed me to have an image of her emerge through the lines of your poem. She's standing right were she always did, near the stove and then the sink and then back to the stove. Yet, she always made time to sit and eat with you.
ReplyDeleteAnita, It's Rosanne Kurstedt. Just read this wonderful poem and saw your comment. How are you?
DeleteAmy, Love the repetition of "Grandma's hands are ______ hands" and the the supporting lines that follow.
Grandma's hands were LOVE. Your poem showed us that!
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Deletemy grammie did show us lots of love...
I often think that I'd like to go back in time to see how my grandmothers did do all that they did, just as you shared. Your poem is beautiful, Amy. I like the repetition of the lines about the hands very much.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda,
DeleteI really imagined being in her kitchen as I was working on this and I know what she did, but my mom's mother passed away when my mom was 16 so I never knew her, only through the special journal my mom gave me.
Hands are such a universal anchor. We read about your grandmother and visualize our grandma's and moms etc.
ReplyDeleteGrandma's hands were cleaning hands
Washing and putting things away,
Readying the kitchen for a rest
Until the dawn of a new day...
Thank you so much, Amy.
Bonnie
Thanks Bonnie!
DeleteI was thinking the whole time about how hard my grandmother labored to accomplish all that she did everyday.
You are welcome!
Grandma's hands--loved that repetition. It made the poem not only about your grandma, but mine. Such a lovely way to capture her. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome Deb,
DeleteWhat special things did your grandmother do? What were her specialties?
So lovely - and hands are such revealing things. I loved all the tasks you shared, and the feeling within those tasks. Those were busy, loving hands!
ReplyDeleteThank you,
DeleteYes, they were busy! Always!
What an incredible description of Grandma's hands. So willing to give love, but yet so busy with so many things.
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacey,
DeleteThat was just one Sunday I had in my mind! You should have seen her going crazy with the Christmas cookies!
What a fun place to be, in the kitchen with you and Grandma, a universal yet personal theme. I also admire your gift of rhyme.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret,
Deleteit was always fun with her...lots of laughter, giggling and being down right silly!
I like this so very much. You described so many things about my own grandmother's kitchen that make me oh so happy. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dana,
DeleteWhat type of things did your grandmother do?