Sentimental Sundays: Granny's Front Porch

On the front porch with Granny-

Watching her lazily swing back and forth,

Her floral cotton dress dotted with

Spots of dark perspiration,

Her tosseled hair dampened with

The sweat of summer's dew.

Silly giggles echo

From my summer time friend and I,

As we throw pebbles from the gravel driveway

At buzzing bumble bees

Trying to steal sweet nectar from Granny's flowers.

Our dirty bare feet

Rush us to grab a fishing net

Just in the nick of time,

To greet hummingbirds that flock

Around Granny's pink crepe myrtles.

Mischievous laughter from silly girls

As we watch the scarlet wings flutter by

Lightening quick, too fast for untrained hands.

Then suddenly Granny's annoyed threats

Thunder above our loud laughter, and

Capture our brief childish attention,

And we watch her lazily swing

Back and forth, holding

A thin wooden twig, swooshing it

Over the hem of her floral cotton dress

As if to frighten us with the threat of lashes

Upon our tanned little legs.

We nearly believe her, 

And we sit quietly for a moment,

Which seems like forever

Exchanging playful glances and

Whispering silly nothings,

Sweeping the dusty wooden porch

With our dirty summer feet,

While we watch the return 

Of hummingbirds and bumble bees

Shamelessly steal the

Sweet nectar from Granny's flowers.

In Loving Memory of my Granny,

Susie Johnson

Originally written by Susan Bourgoyne,

July 7, 2010