My Grandmother's Pearls

Read a folk tale to my grandson In which kindness’ reward Was, whenever the young maiden spoke, Pearls from her mouth just poured. Her evil sister’s punishment Was toads instead of pearls, The moral fairly obvious For little boys and girls. My grandson liked the story And he understood the gist But I realized there was something That he likely might have missed. For a pearl was unfamiliar, Both in value and in looks Though it sometimes does appear In older fairy story books. So I took my grandma’s necklace, With its pearls, so white and cold, And I held them to the camera For my grandson to behold. When bequeathing me her pearls My grandma couldn’t have a clue They’d connect to someone great great grand And more than earn their due.