I.
Today I’m sharing a poem from one of my birthday cards, the one chosen by my 8-year-old grandson… “because Grandma likes poems.”
A Poem for My Grandma
on Her Birthday
Like jelly
needs toast,
and cocoa
needs mugs…
Like cookies
need milk,
and boo-boos
need hugs…
Like bedtimes
need stories–
(at least one or two!)…
Every kid needs a grandma
as special as you!
II.
The morning after my birthday, I jotted down a few lines in my journal:
We gathered for tall ice cream cones.
Choices? Cookies & cream, mint chocolate chip, french vanilla, Tillamook mud slide. We each have our favorite.
The occasion? Celebrating my birthday. Present were twenty; absent were seven. There were cards and flowers, a balloon and brightly wrapped packages. There was laughter and chatter. There were hugs and more hugs. But there were no candles. Too many, said one of the little ones. The wind would blow them out, said another. So I held high my towering cone of mint chocolate as they sang to me.
III.
Out of the words in my journal, a poem emerged–
For tall ice cream
Cones, they gathered
In the backyard.
Present were twenty,
Absent were seven.
Choices we had–
Cookies & Cream,
Mint Chocolate Chip,
French Vanilla,
Tillamook Mudslide.
There were hugs.
There was chatter
And laughter,
And I love you
With Happy Birthday.
There were cards
And flowers,
A unicorn balloon
And brightly
Wrapped packages.
But there were no candles.
Too many, said one
Of the little ones.
The wind would blow
Them out, said another.
So, as they sang,
I smiled and
held high
a towering mint
chocolate chip cone.
© 2019, Alice Nine (draft)
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What a lovely grandma moment and how sweet to turn this into a special ice cream poem! Thanks so much for sharing with our Poetry Friday family!
Happy birthday! Not only did you have quite the celebration with cards and balloons and family and ice cream, your day grew a poem, too.
Happy Birthday, Alice! From the ice cream to the cards, to most especially, the family and friends gathered around you, it sounds like you had quite a lovely and memorable day.
This is so lovely…and spot on for what I miss about my own grandmothers. YOU are a fortunate Grandma. Your children and theirs are fortunate too. Happy Birthday. What a treat!
“No candles,” but so much love and joy mixed into this poem–Happy Birthday Alice, and thanks for sharing a bit of your Birthday celebration!
Happy Birthday! Lucky you to enjoy a family celebration with towering ice cream cones! Hang on to that card from your grandson. Someday you’ll be writing a poem for him as he walks into adulthood!
Ha, ha! Out of the mouths of babes, “a wind would blow them out”. Love this, Alice, & glad you had a happy, happy birthday! Sunday is grandparent’s day, did you know?
No, I didn’t know… so busy celebrating BDs and Labor Day and planning for days at the coast. Maybe I need to throw in that celebration, too. A good reason to have a party, right?
Happy Birthday, Alice! Love how you created a poem from the wonderful details of your special day. Mmmmm, ice cream!
Thank you, Jama!