Grandpappy's sittin' on his porch
rockin' to and fro
knows way more than you think he knows.
Doesn't hear too well, eyes growin' dim
but he's got a sharp mind 'bout him.
Puffin' an suckin' on his favorite pipe
reminisces 'bout his beloved wife
who died some twenty odd years ago.
Turns to me, says thoughful like,
"When I was a youngin' back n' 1903
lived down in the holler with my siblings,
got up early to feed the hogs n' chickens
milked the cows, hayed the horses.
Weren't no inside plummin' back then
carried water from the crick
so Ma could cook n' wash.
With horse n' hand plow,
planted rows of corn n' beans
grew the purtiest red tomatos ya ever seen!
Weren't no time for cryin' an grumblin'
or we'd narry a eaten.
Got maybe a quarter for the whole week
when my chores was complete.
Walked a mile to attend school,
books bound in a belt strap
slung over my back.
Neighbors was few an' far between
but effin' you needed a hand
you could count on 'em to hep
with harvest, buildin' homes and splittin' wood;
most did one another good.
An the women folk knew all the kids names
an' hepped one another with the birthin'
when their babies came"
He paused, puffed on his pipe
"Now son, you listen t' me
don't n'er be ashamed from whence you came.
I done worked hard all my life
an yer Ma n' me faced lotsa hardships an strife,
but we always got by, thanked the good Lord;
bringin' up you youngin's was like nurturin' seeds.
We were a pair, yer ma n' I
our love sweetn' hot as a bubblin' berry pie"
With a mischievous grin, he added,
"Member to dance a jig now n' agin
an fiddle a tune or two,
don't be 'fraid to have some fun,
and make right sure
some of it's homespun!
Life's too short to worry and fret
. . .don't you ne'r forget!"
---written by Kathleen |
