My Grandmother's Cat

Istiqlal (Independence), 2 Mulk 164 B.E. - Friday, February 8, 2008 about 4:21 PM PST

My grandmother's cat Jay
slept in her hen house during the day,
he curled in an empty chicken's nest
and slept while the chickens laid their eggs.

Jay seemed to like the clucking of the hens
he never chased or stole the eggs
he just curled in the empty nest and slept
until my grandmother called his name.

My Grandmother Recycled

Istiqlal (Independence), 14 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Friday, February 1, 2008 about 12:43 PM PST

My Grandmother recycled
before it became fashionable,
she was raised on a farm
in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centaury
so everything that was usable
had to be used and reused.

She made patchwork quilts
from leftover material and pieces of dresses,
she used worn out underwear for cleaning rags
and dust cloths.

Grandma recycled everything possible
glass jelly jars were used as juice glasses
in larger glass jars with lids
she would put bacon grease or chicken stock
and place them in the fridge for later use in
gravy and stew.

And now I follow in her footsteps,
but I do it my way
by selling aluminum cans for gas money
or to pay the Internet bill.

Leaving: It's Never Easy to Leave

Istiqlal (Independence), 7 Sultan (Sovereignty), 164 B.E. - Friday, January 25, 2008 about 12:54 PM PST

Daily Writing Practice Prompt for January 24, 2008 - Write about leaving

It's never easy to leave
someone always cries
at good-byes.

It's never easy to leave
it takes courage
to walk out the door
without looking back
at the tears.

It's never easy to leave
to start a new life far away
from you home town,
but after a while
your home town changes
to the place you now live.

It's never easy to leave
even when the only things you are leaving
are memories.

It's never easy to leave
to pack a suite case and take
the next bus to Las Vegas,
or the next plane to New York,
or the next train to Paris,
or the next ship to Alaska.

It's never easy to leave,
but change is a way of life
and leaving the past behind
always gives a fresh start.

My Grandparents in My Dreams

Istiqlal (Independence), 19 Sharaf (Honor), 164 B.E. - Friday, January 18, 2008 about 2:35 PM PST

For three night
my Grandparents have been in my dreams
we are in the house where they lived
in Blackwell, Oklahoma.

There are cousins I remember
and some I never meant
we are all there,
both sides of my family
gathered in Grandma's kitchen
talking and remembering
the good times
and the bad.

For three nights now
my Grandparents have been in my dreams
and I wonder
what are they trying to tell me.