Thursday, March 10, 2022

March Musings Day 10: Grandma Love

Phone call comes in awakening me from a deep sleep. 

Our little girl is not feeling well. She has a 102-degree fever. Can you take care of her tomorrow?

Groggily I ask, "What time is it?" After a few more stumbling thoughts, I figure out that it is Monday night at 7:30 pm. I am surprised. Did I really take a three-hour nap? After I check my calendar, I respond to my daughter, "Yes, of course. Bring Aurora here tomorrow morning."

Tuesday morning comes and a very tired two-year-old with a running nose and sad eyes enters the house. She clings to her daddy. There is no doubt that she is ill with a cold. After a few hours, she bounces back, starts talking, and begins her day. 

It's time for a temperature check. Aurora is intrigued by my thermometer. I feel a gentle tug. Clearly, Aurora is determined to take matters into her own hands. 

"No, Gramma. No, Gamma" 

She takes the thermometer and moves it across her forehead. We clap when her temperature breaks. Then, she spends the day relaxing with her toys, learning during puzzle play time, and resting with a very long nap, much like mine was the day before.  

I Can Do It

Am I sick?
I don't know?
I can click.
Grama, let go!
©CV, 2022

After a hearty dinner with the family, Aurora and Sierra get ready to leave with one request. 

Sierra would like a weekend sleepover.

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Over the course of several days, I think back on the experience of having my little grandgirls visit. I begin to compose my first pantoum poem.  My writing friend, Fran Haley, has written several and offered guiding information. You can read her lovely poem, First Time Keeping, here

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Sweet Little Miss, 
I sweep you in my arms
Squeezing love from your heart to mine
Each visit we meet.

I sweep you in my arms
Swinging you through the air
Each visit we meet.
Grandma's love is real.

Swinging you through the air,
You  laugh with glee
Grandma's love is real.
Time together is precious.

You laugh with glee,
Squeezing love from your heart to mine.
Time together is precious,
Sweet Little Miss.
©CV, 2022
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Gratitude to Fran Haley for this information:

To write a pantoum, use this line sequence: The pantoum is a poem of any length, composed of four-line stanszas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of a pantoum is often the same as the first.  (1234 2546 5768 7381)

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Tonight, I write for two writing communities.

Thank you, Poetry Friday, hosted by the dynamic duo, Sylvia Vardell and Janet WongThey are sharing their newest book, Things We Eat, a poetry anthology featuring foods poems from A to Z  



Thank you Two Writing Teachers for this daily meeting place to connect with a community of reflective writers.

30 comments:

  1. I appreciate the repetitive, meditative quality of pantoums, and your offering nails that.

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    1. Thanks, Brian. I intend to write some more pantoums so I can keep the momentum going.

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  2. Yes, I agree with Brian, your pantoum has nailed a lovely image of this time with your grandgirl. It does sound meditative. I really like "Sweet Little Miss."

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    1. Thanks, Denise, for your comment. I actually called my daughter Little Miss when she was very young and now after calling Aurora Baby Aurora for a long time, I call her Little Miss. Maybe someday she will call a child of her own Little Miss.

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  3. I enjoyed your pantoum. It came out beautifully! I think you have inspired me to try out some new poetry forms this March. Thank you for sharing.

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    1. Whitney, if you try out the pantoum form connect with me so I can see it. My tip is to sit with the process for a few days. Use the number sequence Fran shared and ask for feedback. I have admired the poems that others have written and I needed to study the process before writing. Of course, having a real memory to focus on helps. Can you please share your blog link so I can read your work?

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  4. I've never heard of the pantoum structure of poetry, but yours turned out beautifully! I love the way the repetition allows you to elaborate on what was said in the previous stanza.

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    1. Shawnda, thanks for stopping by. I enjoyed trying to find you among the slicers so let's keep up the communication. Perhaps, you will try the pantoum format out when writing about your twins.

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  5. *swoon* Your grandgirls a gift to your poetry and to us readers, Carol. Thanks for sharing Little Miss and her Sis with us. :)

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    1. Bridget, my little ones will enjoy seeing your comment. I need to share Smidgey's adventure with them.

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  6. Carol, I am a big fan of pantoums. It is a form I would teach my students and they really loved it. Glad your granddaughter felt better. The picture of her taking her temperature is precious. Your love and joy radiates throughout your pantoum.

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    1. Thank you, Bob. Before writing the pantoum, I felt it was complicated but now that I composed one, I want to write more. Have a great weekend.

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  7. Lovely pantoum, Carol. I haven't tried that form yet... seems a little daunting, but now you've encouraged me. Maybe I will! We grandmas do love our time with the little ones. I will get all 4 of mine for an overnight... now ages 9 to 15. What a time we will have! ;-)

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    1. Karen, I also shied away from the poetic format until I had a clearer picture of what I needed to do. I hope my poem inspires you like Fran's inspired me. Your four grandchildren will have fun with Grandma when they have a sleepover. You will need to write about that one and maybe that will be the focus of your pantoum.

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  8. O that Sweet Little Miss! You are a sweet grandma to take care of a sick little one. xo

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    1. Irene, with the schedule the grandgirls are on, it is good that Aurora had time to relax and get better at my house. Thanks for commenting.

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  9. So heartwarming, Carol. The love pours out of your poem. Glad Aurora is doing better!

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  10. Oooh, a pantoum! I haven't written one of those in quite a while, so thanks for the inspiration! Your little misses are very lucky to have you as their Gramma!

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    1. Thanks, Rose. I am so happy to live close by my little girls.

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  11. You are a fabulous grandmother — and your poems are the BEST gifts to your family! Aurora and Sierra will have fun reading them when they are older and remembering those times you spent together (even the sick days)!!

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    1. Janet, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope Sierra and Aurora enjoy my poems in the years to come and then start writing their own.

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  12. Ah, that "Sweet Little Miss" who already knows how to take her temperature, really special, Carol. I spent Wed. afternoon with my sweet miss who's nearly 13, talking about her future, her plans. They grow up & there's more delight to savor. I love that you are writing so much about your grands. There must be a book some day.

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    1. Linda, you had a grown-up conversation with you sweet miss, 13 already-tie flies by!I plan on savoring every delicious moment.

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  13. Carol, thank you for sharing the pantoum - and how to write one. This will be my poetry challenge for the coming week!

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  14. This post made me miss my Grandmas so much! What love in your life. And, a Grandma that writes poetry for her girls is just the best. I'm sorry there were colds and a fever to bring all this together...but look at this beautiful poetry that came from it. Lovely.

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    1. Linda, thanks for you lovely comments. I woke early to the snow drifting down and it keeps coming down. New York winter in Virginia seems to be the norm now.

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  15. Carol your pantoum is wonderful! I love how the repetition of lines reinforces their meaning to us as we continue to read. And the short poem about your granddaughter taking her own temperature is perfect. How lucky for you all to have these moments together.

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  16. How lovely to be a grandma who comforts her granddaughter when she's ill AND a poet who can capture that time so beautifully! Thank you for joining our Poetry Friday gathering!

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  17. I want to go back to my childhood and have a grandma who cherishes me like you cherish your grands. How lucky they are--and your love just shines through when you write about them!

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  18. Ah, I'm a little envious that you can babysit your grands when they are sick. Such a sweet picture of her taking her temp. I still love teaching, but the babies tug at my heart.

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