She learned to stitch muslin when she was nine. Grandma told her to make short little stitches and keep them in a straight line. Her material was rarely ever store-bought. You took what you could find; you got what you got. The feed sacks from Greer’s place would always make my sister’s heart race. The…
Nostalgia
Nostalgia Why do people become nostalgicThe brain fires up, and there’s a hit Memory banks open wide scenes pour out that cannot hide days of oldcolors me gold Shining days come throughtrying to break free from blue Those summer days on dusty roadsstopping briefly to unload our treasure trove of sticks and rocksnever the restraint…
The Sorghum Mill
On the site of the old hill stands the old sorghum mill, That old standing mill still gives my heart a thrill. The building standing there fills a space I had forgotten until now, of how different a time and place. I can hear my uncle’s voice if I close my eyes, “That sorghum’s valuable,…
The Grist Mill
The early mills had paddle wheels, Very simple, with no whistles and bells. The paddle wheel was fixed to a shaft not too long, Then fastened to the center of the giant millstone. The turning force produced by water on the paddles Was transferred to the runner stone, making a noise that rattled, Causing it…
The Wheelright
The wheelwright cut, chiseled, fashioned, and shaped, Wheels from wood are what he made. The craft of the wheelwright was in high demand, All of it was made and shaped by his hand. Over rocky roads carrying heavy loads, That is how adventurous families traveled down the roads. They depended on the wheelwright’s work of…
The Windmill
The homesteader’s prized possession was his windmill on the plains. Bringing water to his crops by hand had been his most significant pain. With shifting winds, they worked so well — a water pump, the windmill was swell, watering the crops and animals, and if you wanted the wife to cook, you needed the luxury…
Watching Love Grow
The best part of life is watching love grow. Dad said in a small voice, Laughter flows. Even if no words between you are spoken, You silently connect love and give its token. You are older now. The walls are silent. No shadows of small limbs playing, Long gone from sight. Ones so small and…
When Trees Whisper
There is a beauty in life unheard, Intriguing sounds without a spoken word. I look around at the beautiful trees Bending, swaying, moving with ease. They have a plan; they’re going somewhere, Starting over every year without a care. The birds of heaven flying high, The picturesque look makes me sigh. Even the birds work…
The Crook of the Tree
IN THE CROOK OF A TREE Sitting in the crook of a tree quietly hiding, so no one sees me Life is happening all around My happy smile, finally, I found I’m not sure where she’s been hiding I lost myself and stopped confiding Years of hoping and always trusting Time moves too fast; don’t…
Mama in the Kitchen
As a small girl, my favorite memory of my motherAlways involved the kitchen in one way or another. I always awoke to the beautiful smellsOf bacon and biscuits, you could always tell. My mama always had a smile on her face when she cooked,You could tell she loved doing it by the way that she…