She’d pull the dining room chair up to the counter, when all our plates were edged with pears and the cutlery had chunky blue handles, easy for my little fingers to grip. Those chairs made us, my sister and I, part of her team, her crew of little helpers, bakers, packer-away-ers. Back when our kitchen was mostly hers and I told time by the sight of her car from my bedroom window, her handbag hitting the counter, the activity we were up to. 9am baking, 11am coffee, 1pm lunch, 4pm tea. She was structure and normality. She was love and she was comfort.
Courgettes are sprouting,
I think that you grew them once,
leaves green and tender.
Good evening everyone. Tonight’s post is just a quick haibun for the dVerse Poets Prompt: everyday. When I was child, everyday for me was my Great Grandmother Ba. Some of you will recognise that I’ve written about her before. Make sure to click the logo above and go and check out all the other wonderful writers taking part in tonight’s prompt!
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Published by Carol J Forrester
Carol J Forrester is a writer and a history geek. Her debut collection 'It's All In The Blood' came out November 2019.
She has a 2:1 BA degree in history from Bath Spa University, enjoys judo at least twice a week, and tries to attend poetry events around the Midlands when she can.
Her flash fiction story ‘Glorious Silence’ was named as River Ram Press’ short story of the month for August 2014 and her short story ‘A Visit From The Fortune Teller’ has been showcased on the literary site Ink Pantry. Her poems ‘Sunsets’ and ‘Clear Out‘ were featured on Eyes Plus Words, and two of her poems were included in the DVerse Poets Pub Publication ‘Chiaroscuro’ which is available for purchase on amazon.Her poem ‘Until The Light Gets In‘ was accepted and published at The Drabble and her poem ‘Newborn’ was published by Ink Sweat & Tears.
She has been lucky enough to write guest posts for sites such as Inky Tavern and Song of The Forlorn and has hosted a number of guest bloggers on her site Writing and Works.
View all posts by Carol J Forrester
I love this, Carol. “She was structure and normality…” so important for a child’s security and it seems quite lacking so often for children today.
Bringing the plates and cutlery in as characters in this narrative makes the scene so very real to your reader. Love the title, as well!
Isn’t sad that, rather than bringing the generations together (for, my God, what we gain from each other!) we have become a “civilization” that separates them out, categorizes them, and firmly places them in their boxes. Love your poem. Love the memories it encouraged me to relive.
This brought tears to my eyes. Normality, structure, love….all there. How wonderful that you were able to spend time with her. I found this very moving and deeply satisfying
Love that structure and normality part too Carol ~
Lovely poem, Carol
So charming!
A beautiful picture and the memory of courgettes… so good!
What a beautiful tribute, Carol. I felt small and cared for, reading this, as if I were her granddaughter, too.
So important that normality, the structure. How great to have someone bringing it for you,
I love this, Carol. It’s so familiar.
Wonderful tribute to your grandmother.
oh….smiling I am….this is absolutely lovely!!! Thank you for sharing this special memory.
Such a delightful relationship…hope I can be a grandma like that 🙂
Very lovely. I like the fact that you remember her with ordinary things – like courgettes.
Beautiful photo and beautiful haibun.
Thank you.
Those precious moments give you a sense of belonging and well-being as a child. This was beautifully expressed in your haibun. As a preschool teacher, I especially love this as it is a great example of meaningful interaction between adult and child. Beautiful!