Jeff W. Watson Poet Rhyme

Baba's House

These are my memories as I remember them
Of Mom's memories and how she grew up back then
In her childhood years she grew up in Baba's House 
Mom was a beautiful child, kind and meek as a mouse 

Baba's House was a sanctuary safe and warm 
A strong Fortress against the raging storm 
Thunder and Lightning outside trying to get in
But Baba's House kept all safe from harm and sin

Baba's House was always full of kindness and love
Like that beaming down from Heaven above 
Baba's House was built solid, strong and square 
With eight equal rooms and a flight of stairs

Baba's House was beautiful, humble and quaint 
For those who came there, she was a saint 
She brought in nothing but love everyday 
And pushed all hatred, strife and evil away

Baba's House was sheltered by a great big old pine tree
The house had no bathroom, gas or electricity 
In the Winter, the house was warmed by an old stove burning coal
That would heat up the body, heart and soul 

By Baba's House there was an old Crick that ran
It provided cooking, bath water and water for the land
Mom would play down by the Crick some days
But chased away by snakes who also wanted to play

Way back in 1940, there came a bouncing baby girl
Into my Grandmother's and Baba's little World 
Baba took good care of my Mom as best she could 
She always fixed the wrong and brought in the good

Outside Baba's House was an old Outhouse, you know what for
With flowers draped around the building and door
There was also an old Barn and Garden in the yard
Where Baba and her tenent Joseph worked very hard

Baba kept chickens to have everyday fresh eggs
She had a cute little pig with short little legs
And a goat for Mom's milk and to mow the lawn 
Baba and Joseph worked very hard all day long 

Inside the Barn was two very nice big cows
Who Baba and Joseph milked because they knew how Baba would get coal and Joseph would crack it
And Mom would always try to help just a little

Out in the garden were beautiful vegetables 
That Baba would use to cook delicious edibles 
And in his own little shack Joseph would make Elderberry wine 
He would chew his Happy Jack and drink his wine, very fine

The Rooster would everyday chase poor Mom to the front door
Why the Rooster did this, they didn't know for sure
One day the annoying Rooster went missing 
Was he dinner that night, Mom was guessing 

Mom brought home a pet rabbit one fine day
Baba didn't like it as in Russian she would say
On day Mom's rabbit mysteriously disappeared 
Baba called it chicken, Mom knew it was her rabbit as she feared 

Baba was a strong, proud, Russian Woman
Who left Russia because the Bolsheviks were comin'
She left Minsk with son and daughter around 1910
She settled in Phoenix Park, PA, never to return to Russia again 

Baba didn't have much, but what she had she shared
With all of her family about, which she truly cared
Baba's House was priceless, more than what it was worth 
Baba's love was priceless too, worth more than all the treasures on Earth 

Baba's House was always bright and cheerful 
But if you said something wrong, you'd get an earful 
Baba kept a very welcoming clean home
From where my Mom never wanted to roam 

But somewhere back in the day, around 1953
Nana and Pop Pop decided that it was meant to be 
That Mom was to come down to old Philly Town away 
From Baba, for Mom it was a very sad day

But Baba and her House always remained in Mom's heart 
I'm Philly Nana decided Mom should make a new start
Before that, Mom used to take the old train down 
To visit Nana and Pop Pop in old Philly Town 

Very sad and broken hearted, Mom left that day 
She didn't want to leave Baba in any way 
Baba knew that Mom would someday go away 
But Mom kept Baba in her heart over the years always 

One very sad day, Baba went to be with God and passed away 
And with her went a piece of Mom's heart and soul that day 
But God needed a Guardian Angel to watch over her
To keep Mom on the straight and narrow for a beautiful future 

Unfortunately, Baba's House went derelict and fell down 
With no loving souls to care for her left around 
Years later we visited Baba's House which lived in Mom's mind eternal 
All that was standing was one wall like a memorial 

Though I never knew Baba, this is my memory 
Of the House where Mom onced lived in all her glory that used to be 
Baba's House will stand forever in Mom's heart and soul 
It will stand, strong, tall, beautiful and whole

Now that the time of reminisciance from memory has come 
The tale of Baba's House is given life anew in my humble poem 
I wrote this poem for my dear, sweet, beautiful Mother 
To always remember Baba's House of joy cause they're never be another 

Baba, Mom and I love you and miss you too
You're probably up in Heaven telling God what to do 
Which I'm sure God gets a big laugh out of 
And so do the Saints and Angels in Heaven above 

So we say a prayer for Baba to God above 
A beautiful Angel is how she will always be thought of
And her great old House of Love and Joy
As Baba flies among us like a lovely white dove...


Copyright, Jeff W. Watson, 7/10/2026

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