Susan's Grandma

BY PETER CHRISTOPHER RAYMOND
1997

THIS IS FOR YOU FROM THE PERSON YOU HELPED BUILD
WITH THE LOVE YOU EXPENDED AND TAUGHT ME TO GIVE
HEARTFELT PRINCIPLES BY WHICH I WILL ALWAYS LIVE
REFLECTIONS OF YOUR LOVE AND THE VALUES YOU INSTILLED
I LOOK AT YOU TODAY AND YOU SEEM SO SMALL AND FRAIL
YOU USED TO BRUSH MY HAIR AND PIN IT IN A BARRET
HUGGED ME WITH A TOWEL WHEN THE RAIN HAD LEFT ME WET
IN YOU LAY A COMPASSION THAT NEVER SEEMED TO FAIL
NO ONE EVER LEFT YOUR BREAKFAST TABLE HUNGRY
OR IN CLOTHES THAT WERE NOT FINELY PRESSED
YOU ALWAYS MADE SURE WE WERE THOUGHTFULLY DRESSED
WE ALWAYS KNEW SANTA CLAUS AND THE EASTER BUNNY

YOU CRADLED ME INA BLANKET JUST HOURS AFTER MY BIRTH
SWEETLY SHARED WITH ME YOUR MIDDLE YEARS
GIFTED ME WITH TENDER WARMTH AND TEDDY BEARS
TAUGHT ME QUIET DIGNITY AND MY SELF WORTH
YOU PLACED ON MY HEART A DESIRE FOR FAMILY
YOUR WORDS AND VOICE SOOTHED ME WHEN I CRIED
YOU LAVISHED SO MUCH LOVE THAT SORROW DIED
I LEARNED TO BE COURAGEOUS IN FIERCE CALAMITY
I LOOK ON ALL THOSE MEMORIES TO WHICH MY HEART IS TIED
THE WAY I LOVE MY FAMILY BECAUSE YOU TAUGHT ME WHY
WITH PURE AND SWEET AFFECTION I MUST NEVER DENY
ALONG MY PATH OF GROWTH YOU'VE BEEN A FAITHFUL GUIDE

MY IMAGES OF YOU TEND TO LINGER LONG
THE MEMORIES STAY VIVID AND THEIR RESONANCE IS STRONG
AND IF ANY REMINISCINCE SEEMS JUST A BIT PROLONGED
IT'S BECAUSE YOU MOLDED MY HEART AND IN THERE YOU BELONG
EACH PERSON I EMBRACE IS ANOTHER LIFE YOU TOUCH
I LONG TO REFLECT THE PERSON WHO IMPACTED ME SO MUCH
I REMEMBER LYING ON WARM SOFT BEDS YOU MADE
SITTING AT THE TABLE WHERE THE SILVERWARE WAS LAID
I SEE THE FACES OF MY SIBLINGS TOGETHER AS THEY WERE
I WANT TO THINK THAT THROUGH MY LIFE THOSE FEELINGS MAY ENDURE
I'M LOOKING AT MY DREAMS THOUGH I SEE MY HERITAGE
YOU ENFORCED THE SEAMS THAT SUPPORT THAT BRIDGE