Willow Creek

celebration women's right to vote 100 years

Willow Creek

 

she flows smoothly this morning,

gently kissing the banks

with last night’s rain,

as her waters push

toward the Schuykill River

and the sea.

 

It was a calming sight

and I remembered how water,

like Time, moves in one direction

leaving ever widening ripples

and eddies of life;

evolving,

never staying the same.

Even its sound,

those cascading echoes,

do not repeat

as much as they fade way,

replaced

as it journeys on.

 

I am reminded of

my white grandmother,

my mom’s mom

tending her rose bushes;

planted before women could vote.

She would hum

as she stooped to til the soil,

prune the branches,

and gather a hand full

of the blooms

for the kitchen table.

 

I would help her sometimes,

though at 6 I had no patience

to learn what she said,

but I do remember her telling me,

     “life is precious,

      each, coming and going

      in their own way,

      in their own time.

      And, that time

      changes everything,

      even the mountains,

      the oceans,

      and the rose bushes with its thorns.

      Look at me,

      there was a time I had no say,

      today, I can join with others

      and change everything.”

Being young, I didn’t listen,

and it took me years

to finally understand what she said,

     “never ever stop a woman

       from having her say;

       her right as a woman

       to enjoy and change life.

       Women are half of humanity,

       we can do anything.”

 

She passed away in 1965.

We had to move

so I do not know what happened

to her rose bushes,

but I suspect

they too are gone.

But on that day in ‘65

I remembered her words

and began a journey

to become a human being.

 

Funny how watching

the flowing waters speak,

reminds me

my grandmother

was a radical woman,

who still smiles at me

from the calming waters

of Willow Creek.

 

Aztec Warrior/redzone 8.28.20

Author's Note

.....thanks for reading....

Reviews

[Sami Khalil]

A great tribute to your grandmother and women in general. May she rest in peace knowing she influenced a poet and a writer to keep the flame going and the cause alive.

[redzone]

thanks Sami, she might also lecture me on being too radical... lol

[Sami Khalil]

Hehehe. You are welcome sir Radical.

[barleygirl]

WOW! This is one of your best! Thank you for writing this, since it honors all women. I love so many aspects: "tending her rose bushes; planted before women could vote" -- this is a brilliant thread that you weave masterfully thru this poem. I'm in awe so I'll stop blathering! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[redzone]

Margie I have learned, in part the hard way, to never stop a women from speaking and doing.... so please, never stop "blathering" and I'll never stop listening...

thank you so much for your kind words Margie...

[jacob erin-cilberto]

and to think of them as radical because they were the first ones who got to vote...and then a first one on the supreme court....and then a first one to possibly be Vice-president.
the world changes, life gets a clue, some men don't.
j.

[redzone]

your comment gave me many thoughts Jacob, but I will control my pen and simply say I am really happy you enjoyed this poem...

my grandmother was a Eugene Debs socialist.... something I didn't know until after her death... I wish I could have talked to her about her experiences... some men don't get it until it's too late when they finally do... I would like to have told her how I became a Leninist and Maoist a few years after she passed.... we could have shared thoughts...

[Ana Papaya]

I think this is one of the loveliest poems I've read here.
She was right, time leaves nothing untouched. We adapt to change and must do what we can, together to live harmoniously. That goes for all genders, races, religions etc.
This wise woman taught you well. :) A very moving poem.

[redzone]

Ana, you honor me with your words, thank you muchly and then some... "all that and a bag of chips" is how someone here would say...

and by the way, while I do love seeing those chuck taylors above your name, it is even nicer to see your smile above your name....

again thank you for your words Ana, I am glad the poem moved you...

[Ana Papaya]

You're very welcome. :)

[redzone]

Hi Ana, hope you are doing good...

[Ana Papaya]

All good. Summer is over so life is busy again.
Back to school, back to work. But so far so good.
Hope all is well over there. :)

[redzone]

yep, all here is good... fall approaches, days get shorter, and the cold sets in... the spiral moves forward... glad you and yours are doing good...

[Lydia Shutter]

What a wonderful tribute to your grandmother, Curt. It is true, after a moment passes, we will never see it again. We will never have a day just like today. Waters change the banks, wind changes the trees, time....changes us all. Your grandmother taught you well, Curt. No wonder you respect women as you do. I'll bet those rose bushes are still flowering at the old house. You should use Google Earth to find them! The reminiscing in this one is so "nice". I enjoyed it. Lydi**

[redzone]

thanks for your "nice" comment Lydi, you know I love when you visit.... I will have to take aa ride into Reading and go by the old house, see I the rose bushes are still there... maybe I'll be surprised.... I now have 2 rose bushes going in my garden, maybe what she taught me about roses may also have rubbed off.... thanks again Lydi