Grampa's knees

A comment and memories

"You have cute knees", he said
And it struck her as
Funny, and odd,
That her shame
And self conscious
Adolescent mystery
Should be
Endearing ...

All her life
She wondered
Why weren't her legs
Straight and long
Instead of all those other
(sexy) words
They were
Sturdy and strong --

She remembered crying
And wanting them different
Until that day
Not long before
Her grampa died
Uncovered then,
In his hospital issued attire,
She realized

She had more than
Grampa's drive,
And tenacity...
The legs that
Were like no one else's
In the family --
She had
Her grampa's knees.

Author's Note

Stock image -- don't know whose knees these are

Reviews

[charlie]

A very endearing write that touches the heart, and brings a little give to the legs.
I also appreciate the poetic notion of one generation climbing on the back of another; or in this instance, resting on its precious lap.
Sturdy and strong is highly valued. Don't doubt it.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. With age comes perspective and hopefully, the shedding of old doubts ...

[Fabian G. Franklin]

This was delightful! And it has such an endearing twist to it. There's nothing like the things passed down to us by family whether heirlooms or cute knobby knees. :)

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes. I think it's funny. A generational thing really. One can spend so much time with an elder, and never SEE certain things.

[Fabian G. Franklin]

My daughter looks a bit like my mother. Sadly, my mom never got to see her. But others have remarked the same.

[Neville]

Knees are oft misunderstood and or forgot when it comes to those parts of ourselves that should be loved and cherished .... take it from me... a life long knee lover.... brilliant write here Lyn ..... N

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks so much. Duly noted oh lover of knees ... your opinion is that much more appreciated...

[Chris Shaw]

You had one wise Grandad there Lynn, giving his granddaughter some loving food for thought. And the message stayed. Lovely poem, endearing words. Uplifting poetry.

Chris

[Lyn Anderson]

Yes, he was a lovely man. I write of him often, and think of him always, when striving to forgive, and carry on, as he was the master at those two things

[Chris Shaw]

We can learn much from our grandparents. I did from all four of mine. I consider myself very fortunate indeed.

[Lyn Anderson]

The good I learned from one side, the dark and ugly from the other. Although, at the time, I scarcely realized both served their purpose.

[Coyote Poetry]

A wonderful story shared in the poetry Lyn. A perfect ending for the tale. Thank you for sharing the outstanding poetry.
Coyote.

[Lyn Anderson]

Thanks very much. It's easiest to write when it comes from the best places.

[Coyote Poetry]

I agree Chris and you are welcome.

[Relic]

We often see things in a different light when discovering similarities with someone we love, don't we? Nice one, Lyn.

[Lyn Anderson]

Very much so, and upon hearing the point of view of someone else ...:)

[redzone]

funny how what we find ugly, other see as endearing, glamourous, sexy even... with his knees, you will always have him around Lyn....

[Lyn Anderson]

Yeah, and I passed them on to one of mine. She curses them now, wait till they get her through a marathon

[emmajoy]

Every piece of writing should firstly tempt the reader's interest. That should be followed by little hints to tempt either mind, heart or - better still, both. A frown or sigh by now, perhaps. But no, there can be a truly memorable finish. There is, Lyn. This really is finely and touchingly written. 'Endearing', in fact.

[Lyn Anderson]

Aww, thanks very much.

[Delmar Cooper]

I have my great uncle's teeth in a jar.

[Lyn Anderson]

These knees are readily identifiable in the event they should end up on someone's mantle.:)

[Kelly Scheppers]

A lovely way of infusing a memory into a poem. You made me swallow hard with that closing line.

[Lyn Anderson]

Aww thanks. I do appreciate