LAUNDRY DANCE

Sorting through all of my laundry today
I suddenly realized
There were memories gathering around me
Dancing brilliantly on the clothes

A shirt that needed starch for Grandpa Joe
He wore one almost every day
And, Dad’s short sleeve dress shirt was there too
He loved them in the hot weather

Ah! Mema’s apron is on the pile there
I smell her biscuits cookin’ too
Aunt Mary’s skirt with stitched decorations
As she sits at the piano

My favorite dress of Mama’s comes to call
Chanel Number Five wafts around me
And, I think of that dress and how she looked
On the arm of my Dad that night

There’s that tight pair of jeans from high school days
Boy, did I think I looked good then
A cap and gown times three join in the dance
The “Gentle” cycle for each one

The dance ends on this laundry day
Others will join in the next time
Some needing a little extra scrubbing
While most will waltz in their own style

Oops! Look at that! “DEAR” Aunt Martha’s sweater
Memories of her switch linger on
I think I’ll wash it in the HOT cycle
And, hang it on the line to dry!

@Copyright Scarlet's Rhymes - The above and all poetry and pictures on this Blog cannot be reproduced on the World Wide Web or any other published form without the written permission of the writer/creator at scarlet@rhymecreek.com

HER WAYS

She’s in my distant memory now
Sometimes it’s hard to picture her
Her looks, her manners, her clothes, her ways
Are all back there in my childhood

And, by the time I was old enough
To have any strong memories
It’s of a lady who was not well
Who was not able to spend time

So, I try to drift back to before
When she took my hand and we walked
Around her yard of tall camellias
And she told me all of their names

I see her churning butter right now
Snapping crowder peas for dinner
Which will get a drop of her pepper sauce
When we gathered at the table

Some Coca-cola mid-afternoon
With a slice of homemade pound cake
She’d spin the stories and the gossip
And, nod her head ‘cause it was true!

Don’t sass me or you’ll git the switch!
Young ladies don’t use such bad words!
You know you’re the best thing in the world!
Come give Mema some sweet sugah!

Images, words, looks.. rush back to me
Time stopped and reverted to her
I CAN see her manners, clothes and ways
Ah, yes, I remember her now.

@Copyright 2007 Scarlet's Rhymes - The about and all poetry and pictures on this Blog cannot be reproduced on the World Wide Web or any other published form without the written permission of the writer/creator at scarlet@rhymecreek.net

CLUTTERED

The door swung wide as I walked inside
Curious as a dang cat
I wondered why as he caught my eye
Who would put up with all that

A cluttered place with little space
He had little room to walk
I smelled the stink which made me think
He’s watchin’ me like a hawk

I looked around and finally found
A window that was open
I caught by breath scared half to death
I’d die soon I was hopin’

He got up close his breath was gross
And, as he started to speak
I thought it wise I closed my eyes
Then felt my knees go weak

When I woke up there was a cup
Of home brew on the table
I looked around didn’t see the clown
I best go if I’m able

Outta the blue he spit his chew
I gagged at the man so vile
He wiped his face of every trace
Gave me a picket fence smile

@Copyright 2007 Scarlet's Rhymes - The above and all poetry and pictures on this blog cannot be reproduced on the World Wide Web or any other published form without the written permission of the writer/creator at scarlet@rhymecreek.com

OPHELIA JANE, SO FINE

Ophelia Jane Ogletree was pretty
Her Mama made real sure of it too
She taught her of the finer things in life
Society dinners and high tea
Ophelia Jane was seen at the grand events
Where all eyes turned to her as she walked
Her Mama told her to always smile pretty
Someone with a camera might be near
Mama taught her that Ogletree’s were fine
And, Ogletree girls never perspired
If the slightest of glistening ever happened
She would always have her silk hanky close
Her Mama helped her learn of fine jewelry
Linen and silk from far away lands
A custom made gown for every party
A gorgeous bauble around her neck
Ophelia Jane had her choice of the rich boys
Always choosing a different one too
Her calendar and dance cards were filled up
“The belle of the ball” her Mama bragged
Ophelia Jane dressed for the cotillion
The finest linen wrapped her just so
As she reached the front door where all eyes turned
“Mama! Ah’m-a glis’nin tah hell‘n back!"

@Copyright 2007 Scarlet's Rhymes - The above and all poems and pictures cannot be copied and used on the World Wide Web or any other published form without the written permission of the writer/creator at scarlet@rhymecreek.com

LIFE'S UPS AND DOWNS

I’ve heard that life is like a toilet seat
Sometimes it’s up and sometimes it’s down
And, every now and then you get peed on
Sometimes it even gets worse than that!

So, yesterday I decided to count
Thinking of the UP times in my life
And, without going too far back in time
I realized that I had quite a few

Then, I decided to count the DOWN times
I got a little misty for sure
And, I would imagine that most folks would
The DOWN times are known as the tough times

I won’t tell you how I chose all those times
Because my UPs may not be like yours
And, your DOWNs might be a lot different too
You know them much better than I do

So before you get caught with the seat up
At a time when you thought it was down
My advice would be to look around you
And, be happy you have a toilet!
@Copyright Scarlets Rhymes - All poetry and pictures on these pages cannot be duplicated onto the World Wide Web or used in any published form without the written permission of the writer/creater at scarlet@rhymecreek.com

The Vision At The Old Church

Her services were planned in the old church
Where she grew us as a child
Relatives who once knew her were told
As well as the ones who cared

I walked in the front door before anyone
It was hours ahead of time
I wanted to gather my thoughts and my strength
Before others came drifting by

Reflections on my own childhood appeared
The day I tried to play the organ
Despite the fact that I knew just one song
And, “Moon River” just didn’t work

A cleared throat on the other side of church
Grabbed me back to reality
I looked over and saw someone stand up
And, she headed right toward me

“I’ve been told I look a lot like your Mom”
I tried to stand but I couldn’t
“We are second cousins and weren’t real close”
“But, I know she was a good soul”

I think I smiled and nodded my head at her
“You.. you…you do. You look a lot…”
She said she hoped she didn’t bother me
She wouldn’t be at the service

Then, she walked toward the back of the church
I watched every step that she took
A cousin or a vision or wishful thinking
She disappeared in the bright sun

@Copyright Scarlet Rhymes - Any and all poetry and pictures on these pages cannot be duplicated in any manner on the World Wide Web or any other published form without the written permission of the writer/creator at scarlet@rhymecreek.com