Grandma Jenny

Posted on January 26, 2023 by purplepeninportland 
Written for: dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics:  Grandmothers . . .
(posted by sarahsouthwest)

" . . . write about grannies. Those older women who support us and nurture us. The women who perhaps spoil us a little, but reserve the right to tell us off. Maybe you are a grandma, or live with one. Tell me how it is to be a granny.

Maybe you don’t have grandmother, but have observed them on the bus or in a local café. Maybe you had a terrifying grandma, maybe you only know her through family myths. Or maybe there are other women who have played that role in your life. Tell me about them.


Oval, metal-legged table
dominated grandma's kitchen.
Used for baking, dinners,
holiday meals.  Short, stout
grandma spoke little
English, so I learned
to pick up scraps
of Yiddish.  Communication
through eyes, smiles,
and frown worked well.

Loved to watch her bake.
No recipes.  Flour mound
mid-table, indented for
addition of eggs. For
knishes or noodles,
grandma spread and rolled
dough to a knife edge sheet.
All dough was hand cut.  How
heavenly to recall scents
of cinnamon, potatoes,
and onions.

Dark lipstick was her only
makeup, but she loved 
jewelry, and having a family
member paint her nails.  

The kitchen was not her
only venue.  She and grandpa
took me to the playground,
pushed me on swings, and told
made-up children's stories
in Yiddish.  She always thought
we were too skinny.

https://dversepoets.com/

About purplepeninportland

I am a freelance poet, born and bred in Brooklyn, New York. I live with my husband, John, and two charming rescue dogs–Marion Miller and Murphy. We spent eight lovely years in Portland, OR, but are now back in New York. My goal is to create and share poetry with others who write, or simply enjoy reading poetry. I hope to touch a nerve in you, and feel your sparks as well.
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17 Responses to Grandma Jenny

  1. Sadje says:
    January 26, 2023 at 2:25 am

    Aww, lovely memories of your grandma

    Like

    Reply
  2. Sherry Marr says:
    January 26, 2023 at 2:42 am

    Grandmas do love to feed their grandchildren. Smiles. I can see her, with that mound of flour. They used to joke that my grandma’s stove was never cold.

    Like

    Reply
  3. kittysverses says:
    January 26, 2023 at 3:12 am

    Wonderful memories. 🙂

    Like

    Reply
  4. SelmaMartin says:
    January 26, 2023 at 5:08 am

    Feeding the kids was her biggest way to show love, I’m sure. What a precious lady. Thanks for sharing.

    Like

    Reply
  6. Björn Rudberg (brudberg) says:
    January 26, 2023 at 8:02 pm

    There are those grandmothers who simply have learned that feeding a kid is the most important. A grand lady

    Like

    Reply
  7. sarahsouthwest says:
    January 26, 2023 at 8:10 pm

    Lovely memories! I guess food is its own language.

    Like

    Reply
  8. Vidya Tiru says:
    January 29, 2023 at 10:56 pm

    such beautiful memories.. my memories of my grandmoms always warm my heart instantly, like yours obviously do for you..
    and aren’t we all always skinny for our grandmoms?
    My dVerse post is here

    Like

    Reply

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