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My Maternal Grandmother

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“Grandmothers are voices of the past and role models of the present. Grandmothers open the doors to the future.” – Helen Ketchum You passed away many years ago several decades before I was born A person that I’d have loved to know your sudden death still makes mum mourn Your photograph in an ornate silver frame has pride of place on mum’s dressing table Not a day passes when she doesn’t say your name Mum talks about you whenever she is able Mum keeps your jewelry in a satin lined box one day it will all be passed on to me Simple pieces, not huge diamond rocks knowing they were yours makes me happy I missed out so much in my childhood days envying my friends (although I didn’t show it) But my genetic link’s apparent in poetic ways because like my grandma, I too am a poet! my grandmother’s face captured in a photograph - I wish I’d known her Poet’s notes - although I knew my aunt and uncle both wrote I only discovered 3 years ago that my mother and grandmother also wrote poetry, sadly none of my mother's or grandmother's work exists for me to enjoy Forms used, rhyme and senryu - classed for the contest as rhyme Writing Challenge 1, August 2019 - Just Write - Poetry Contest Sponsored by Dear Heart 8/11/19

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019




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Date: 8/16/2019 4:48:00 PM
Oh Jan, what a beautiful song of poetry! There are alway secrets in our family's lives and thank God you were able to retrieve one. I consider this a special legacy....Ralph
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/17/2019 2:59:00 AM
I wish I'd had the chance to meet her Ralph, what I now know is I was destined to write, it just took my husband's cancer to bring it out in me. Hubby had surgery in 2013 when I started writing, but it came back in some form and he's just undergone 6 1/2 weeks radiotherapy and is now cancer free:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/14/2019 4:17:00 PM
Congrats Jan on your shared win, this was very touching write, and it seems like it came right from the heart. That's where the best poems come from!
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John Hamilton
Date: 8/18/2019 3:48:00 PM
I think sometimes our true self is revealed through test and trials, I started writing poetry after my heart attack 7 years ago!
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:49:00 AM
The only bit of poetic licence is the photograph is on a chest of drawers not a dressing table but apart from that its all true, I wonder what would have happened if I'd started writing poetry sooner but it wasn't until my hubby had cancer did i pick up the pen for the first time but i was meant to write one day as poetry is in my blood:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/13/2019 1:14:00 PM
This lovely poem warms the heart Jan. My grandmother died young too and from what I know of her we would have gotten along really wonderfully. She worked from necessity in a world where most mother stayed home. She was very beautiful in both features and in her soul. I love this poem. Congratulations on your deserving first placement! : ) xxoo
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:47:00 AM
Thanks so much for the lovely comment Connie:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/13/2019 2:46:00 AM
Back with congratulations Jan, well deserved. Tom
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:46:00 AM
Thanks Tom:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/13/2019 2:02:00 AM
Back to send many congrats for your well deserved 1st place win Jan. With kindest thoughts Ann xx
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:46:00 AM
Thanks Ann:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 9:47:00 PM
I ran out of room. You probably guess that. Anyway, your talent shone and also radiated your heart. A beautiful poem ... CayCay
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:45:00 AM
It truly is written from the heart i wish I'd met my grandmother I feel I missed out so much when I was growing up, but I am so blessed to still have mum we are closer than ever especially as my sister has no contact with her - to my knowledge there's not been a phone call, and definitely not a mothers day card or anything in the last 2 years - I've saved the one from 2017 and put it up for mum in her room:-( :-(:-( hugs Jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 9:46:00 PM
I'm a-cryin. I know your history & feel sure your Mom really does as the poem says. In my own way I do the same concerning Dad, others but Dad mostly. So, I have a kleenex. To me, this should have been the only 1st place. Not only are your lines superb emotive poetry but I could feel your very heartbeat emanating from your poem and I know that's because this write WAS heart written. I feel so empathetic right now towards both you and your Mom who loves her Mom - like you and I always will.
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:42:00 AM
aww thanks CayCay:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 7:23:00 PM
Jan congratulations on your win in my writing challenge with this excellent write and I love your image too
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:41:00 AM
Thanks SO much Constance - YOU inspire me to go out of my comfort zone and write sad:-)hugs jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 6:56:00 PM
How lovely to come from a family of poets...and congrats on your 1st place win with this poem.
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:40:00 AM
I knew my aunt and uncle both wrote witty poems mainly limericks but I had no idea my maternal grandmother or my mother wrote!:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 6:18:00 PM
A lovely poem Jan, congrats. :)
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:39:00 AM
Thanks Gary:-) hugs Jan xx
Date: 8/12/2019 6:02:00 PM
awww how sweet! Congrats dear Jan on your well deserved top notch win. :)-luloo
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/15/2019 7:39:00 AM
thanks so much LuLoo love the new avatar!:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/11/2019 6:48:00 PM
What a legacy your grandmum and others left for you and for you to pass on! Writing is in your genes, Jan! A great entry for the contest. Glad the Relief Behind a Tree gave you a giggle. Based on a true incident when I was stationed with the AF in Bermuda. Gus was our squadron drunk but a grand guy - always tapped me for a loan to satisfy his thirst but was faithful in paying me back come pay day!
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2019 5:00:00 AM
Yes poetry must be in my genes it just took my husband's cancer for it to be activated in me lol:-) hugs jan xx
Date: 8/11/2019 4:36:00 PM
Aww Jan this is such a moving tribute to your beloved Grandmother, whose poetic spirit lives on within you. It is truly beautiful Jan. I too never saw either my paternal or maternal grandmother, and really feel such sadness that I never got to sit upon their laps and listen to their tales from the past. Wishing you well in the contest Jan. With kindest thoughts Ann xx
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/12/2019 4:57:00 AM
Thanks Anne, I only had a maternal grandpa and he was not a nice man so we rarely saw him, yes to have treasured memories of grandma's would have been so precious but sadly it was not to be, but part of my maternal grandma lives on through me, she wrote witty poems and my aunt and uncle wrote limericks, mum wrote happy and sad, her mother's death affected her so deeply:-( hugs jan xx
Date: 8/11/2019 11:23:00 AM
A verse from the heart Jan, her love of poetry and indeed your moms lives on through you. I knew both my grandmothers' although I was young when they passed away. Good luck. Tom.
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2019 1:23:00 PM
I feel I missed out so much when I was younger both my est school friends were always telling me what they'd got up to at the weekend or after school especially the fun they had with their grandmothers:-( hugs jan xx
Date: 8/11/2019 11:09:00 AM
- A moving story from your family tree, Jan: (- (I miss being a grandmother ... love them so much) - Best wishes in the contest :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2019 1:22:00 PM
aww Anne-Lise I am sure they miss you too but aren't in contact for family reasons:-( hopefully in time they will be able to make their own decisions and things will be different for you all:-) hugs Jan xx
Date: 8/11/2019 10:17:00 AM
Hi Jan, You have penned a moving and heartfelt write about your grandmother. I was able to know both my grandmother's on my mom's and dad's side. But I was in grade school when they passed away. Our loved ones live on through us. I wish you the best of luck in the contest:-) Alexis
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Jan Allison
Date: 8/11/2019 1:20:00 PM
Thanks Alexis, my maternal grandmother died when mum was about 6 or 7, it has a life long effect on her:-( hugs jan xx

Book: Shattered Sighs