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About This Poem

My Nan

I used to sit on my Nan’s knee; she ran her fingers through my hair
She told me all the stories of when she thought life was still fair

Many a time just sitting there listening to her stories told with mirth
I wouldn’t have swapped it for anything; there was nothing of equal worth.

Stories of my granddad, my mum, aunts and uncles too
Stories of the bombs landing, and all of them quite true.

To this day her old house, the wall tilts at an odd angle
When a bomb landed there, it blasted the streets only mangle*

There was always so many of us and not enough knees to go around
But I always managed to get one whenever we went round.

We were usually on the run, the rent man after money
Dad had got it to a fine art. Just booze no bread and honey

My Nan one did her anger flew, she struck him with a pan
I think it might have done him good; he started to become a man.

Those days now just a memory, but such wonderful though hard times.
No food no home no money but it was really great sometimes

A fondness there is for thing long past, whether good times or the bad
A time to remember the best of it, to get though it we should be glad

I still sit and ponder and feel her fingers through my hair
I’ll never say goodbye to my Nan, even though she isn’t there.

© 23/11/2012
*
Mangle: Rollers to squeeze water form the washing.
In those days the whole street used to share a mangle the owner would be the wealthiest in the road.

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  1. Date: 11/24/2012 2:16:00 PM

    love the history GG,wonderful write move over make room

  1. Date: 11/23/2012 9:34:00 PM

    WAs Nan your name for grandma? this has such a nostalgic sweet quality, mandy. CHARMING

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:20:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Yes, Andy, nan is what we call our grandmothers and thanks for the comments xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 6:24:00 PM

    An amazing poem Mandy -recalling the cherished memories of the bye gone years. I am deeply touched. Thanks for your message of congratulations on on my Quatrains Journey of Love win in the contest. Have a lovely week end. Love. -Mohammad

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:20:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Thanks Mohammad, have yourself a smashing week too xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 5:23:00 PM

    Nicely made nostalgic write, Mandy!! Jag

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:21:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Thanks Jag i appreciate your time sweetie xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 3:54:00 PM

    Last line. I'll never say goodbye to my Nan. You are missing an s in say. Love the poem tough times filled with much love. Often they are the best of times when we look back. Well written tapestry of your early days.

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:21:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Thanks Richard have put that right, bless you xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 2:42:00 PM

    So good to rethink about our good old Nan; tears in the eye...Thank you for sharing, dear Mandy;no, we'll "never ay goodbye to Nan even though she isn't there"! Love, Hanitra

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:22:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    Thanks Hanrita, nice to see you about again xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 2:11:00 PM

    this is lovely Mandy,, brings back heaps of memeories...

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:22:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    I think 'nans' do don't they xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 10:01:00 AM

    Lovely Mandy. Made me feel very old though - we had a mangle when I was little!! bw K

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:23:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    I think it would be worse if you still had one lol . Thanks Kaye xx
  1. Date: 11/23/2012 9:23:00 AM

    Oh, sweet memories, Mandy. Awesome Nan. We should have more like that. I like the part where your Nan struck your father with a pan. It sounds awful but it is hilarious lol. Love ya, Toquyen

    Tams The Golden Girl Avatar Mandy Tams The Golden Girl Date: 11/24/2012 6:24:00 AM Block poet from commenting on your poetry

    She was a strong woman lol . Thanks for your time Toquyen xx