New England Nostalgia words of warmth, wisdom and wonder
Ahh… the days of lincoln logs, silly putty, tea parties with salamanders and Walt Disney, on Sunday nights. Come re-visit the warmth, wonder and wisdom with my words.
Dancing in my Grandfather’s shadow
As a child I found comfort
in my Grandfather’s shadow
nestling in his towing wisdom
his spoken words
gently whispered guidance
as callused hands told stories
walking me through his years
with innocent glimpses
of his unmet dreams
His aging eyes captured my adoration
mirroring tradition and casting fortune
At times they would twinkle
inviting my loyalty and respect
as his unrestrained smile balanced
yesterdays pains and joy
Time embedded forehead lines
mapped his many journeys and detours
through life with respect not regret
Often my Grandfather would cup his ear
as he listened to my hunger for his affection
while never letting on that he knew
my adventurous stories were exaggerated
for his benefit
My Grandfather always paused before he spoke
claiming my full attention in anticipation
for the “rest of the story”
and the lessons behind his words
I carry my Grandfather’s impact on me
as I map out and journey my own life
while I proudly dance in his shadow.
Donnalee Webber
Wisdom
Jenny jumped her checkered rope
for hours in a day
Each time her tapping shoes went down
her pigtails up would stay
Everywhere that Jenny went
her skipping rope would go
She jumped all summer, spring and fall
from dawn to twilight’s glow
Jenny jumped for many years
each day of every season
Everyone tried to make her stop
it mattered not her reason
You look silly, they all scorned
you’re getting much too old
Jenny paused, to share a smile
and with pigtails gray she told
You are all the silly ones,
that chased childhood dreams away
But I pledged 90 years ago
to never forget how to play
]
TRACE’S OF TRADITION
Pixie cuts, Faded overalls
Buckle shoes
Sweet baby dolls
Sunday bonnets, A tiny tea set
Little jarred firefly
Night light pet
Cracker Jacks, Stacked Lincoln logs
Salamanders
Pail of pollywogs
Walk stone walls Like a balance beam
Arms stretched out
Which way to lean
School swings that touch the sky
snowball fights
mittens to dry
Sneak green apples from a neighbor tree
who gets the belly ache first we’ll see
Trade a big nickel
For that little dime
Hopscotch jump a rope
Hands clap with rhyme
Splashing puddles
Mixing mud’s
Mr. Bubbles
A beard of suds
Watch Walt Disney
Each Sunday night
So colorful black and white
Pink silly putty Stuck on comic books
School yard cooties
Catch dirty looks
Digging to China
From a big sand pile
“Where is this place?”
It’s sure taking awhile.
Picking Lady Slipper’s
Run home with a song
Innocence not ignorance
To know that it was wrong
Whispering whishes
As shooting stars fall
Reflections of hand puppets
Dance on the wall
Kicking your heels
Against church pew’s
Before you realize
You’ve outgrown your shoes
Pockets of tradition
echo’s of a song
treasures of innocence
gifts to pass along
donnalee