Annie's Farm

An old wash tub and on the top a ringer mashing clothes,
With water dripping off the side just splashing on my toes.
I think of grandma Annie washing clothes back in her day,
And telling me to move aside and not get in her way.

I think about the time I begged her to let me do that,
And when she did my hand got caught; the ringer smashed it flat.
It went up to the elbow as she pounded on the top,
Releasing the top roller and the thing would finally stop.

So many things I think about on Grandma Annie's farm,
That was just one of the things, the ringer and my arm.
The kitchen was the greatest place when she would start to bake,
I was fascinated by the things that she would make.

One thing that I remember most on each and every day,
Were homemade biscuits made from scratch the real old fashion way.
She would take her finger and just make a hole in one,
And pour molasses in until it filled up and would run.

When I was just a boy to me that was the sweetest treat,
But everything about my Grandma's farm was really neat.
I used to chase the chickens all around the pecan tree,
But then sometimes the mean old geese would chase and peck at me.

I didn't like the pigpen because it smelled really bad,
And anyway the pigs scared me, they always acted mad.
The chicken coup was not so bad and each day without fail,
Grandma sent me to get eggs inside my little pail.

I still remember feeding calves; the powdered milk would stink,
And nipples on the buckets where the little calves would drink.
Hanging on the fence post watching all the milk go down,
Laughing at the little calves that made the slurping sound.

One thing I still remember left a sobering effect,
The day I saw my Grandma Annie wring a chicken's neck.
There was no store to buy it in if chicken was the meal,
That also came from scratch but fixing it was an ordeal.

But one thing that I knew for sure with dinner on the way,
Everything we had for dinner had been fresh that day.
Unless it had been canned before in mason jars and sealed,
Or from the little smoke house that was way out in the field.

Life just seemed so simple then not like the news we read,
Grandma used to say "we're poor but we have all we need."
She used to tell me of a great depression long ago,
But she would laugh and say "we were so poor we didn't know."

She has been gone for many years and life has changed so much,
But I can still remember Grandma Annie's special touch.
And all the things she taught me and the precious memories,
I guess I'm not the only one with memories such as these.

But back then life was simple and it seemed so fresh and pure,
I know some things are better now, but some I'm not so sure.
But on this day we set aside for women that we love,
You also may have loved ones who have now gone up above.

You think about the present and you think about the past,
A mother, wife, or grandma who's love will forever last.
They touched your life and heart and soul with love so pure and true.
And Mother's Day our thoughts express to them, "I still love you."

[ by James A. Kisner © 2003 (PoppyK1@aol.com) -- {used with permission} ]