Grandmama I Miss Your Silver Hair

Grandmama I miss your silver hair. You'd sit on the door steps of your grey trailer. I'd watch you watching the road as cars rolled by.

Quietly you'd sit in the sunshine of the day chewing ham bones to shreds with those tough gums. One tooth was all I saw.

I was fresh out of high school, home alone. I stayed with you till mama came to get me. I'd wander off into the woods to pick flowers, tinkle or take a dump.

You always embarrassed me when my menstrual came on because you notice I didn't tinkle or dumped on those days.

I'd search high and dry for fat chips, berries anything interesting. I loved the smell of sap. I'd chew sap right off the tree till there was none to be found.

Grandmama I miss your silver hair. Your hair was soft, oily, easy to comb. There wasn't a tangled knot to snagged the comb.

I miss scratching dandruff from your scalp. I miss braiding your hair, one for each side of your head.

I didn't think much about those days until my silver strands showed up. Now I reminisce those days when you'd ask me to scratch your head really hard, part it down the middle, just two one for each side.

And that's how it was, me and you, before I left the south for Pennsylvania.

While away I got word you passed. Western union and a bus ticket, I was home. You died just how I left you sitting on the steps watching the road as the cars rolled by.

Grandmama I miss you, your silver hair and fussy comments warning me not to let boys touch my private area. I'd turn away to roll my eyes.

Grandmama I miss your annoying talks. But you knew I was a good girl. Granddaddy wasn't when you saw him bring me back the way I left.

Soon l realized why he gave my lil sister money. I told mama when she finally confided in me because she wasn't strong like me. Mama took him to task for her girls.

On his death bed mama took care of him. He died knowing mama still loved him. He adopted her as his baby, not his flesh and blood.

Grandmama I miss your silver hair. I didn't think much about those days until my silver strands showed up.

Those were the days when it was just me and you. I know I'll see you again in paradise. I long to see you face, your smile, your silver hair blowing in the wind just like mine did today.