her grandmother stood at the window in the kitchen
the corners of her mouth turned up into
an unconscious slight smile
at the sight
of a spinning yellow blur
under the big oak
in the middle of the pasture
surrounded by green grasses
wonderous hues of wildflowers
she quietly called out to grandad
come see this
the lanky cowboy sauntered in
from the breezeway
with his umpteenth cup of coffee
peered at the blur of yellow
opened the side door
stepped out on the deck beside the metal glider and
called out in his smooth baritone voice
sheeeeeelllllliiii...
sheeeeeelllllliiii lllllloooooooooo...
she might have
been 4
or perhaps five
precious in the way
innocent girls that age are
dressed in smocked yellow lawn
white lace
patent leather
up to her shins in spring grasses
slowing her spin
she turned toward her name
her face radiant she took a wobbly step or two
then broke into an off kilter run
arms stretched out before her
he took a few long strides
bent his tall body low
offering a bent knee
wide open arms
she flew into them with all her might
knowing she would be caught
rough housed with
and given a wickereye
from the window her grandmother took it all in
sighed
said to herself
hold this dear
hold this snapshot of the soul
for. ever.
my granddad and i had a love-love-andmore-love based relationship. he’s my greatest hero and the man John Wayne wished he was in real life. we worshiped each other and i will forever and all ways n always hold him close in my heart. what a lucky girl i’ve been!
