Poetry

My grandma is practically perfect in every way. I'm planning on becoming the type of old woman who yells at teenagers and shuffles through the grocery store in her house dress and slippers. But if I decide to change, I think I'd like to age as gracefully as my grandma has.

She sent me a letter this week. I always love her letters, which is why I always try to write back. This letter was for my birthday, and as part of it, she included a poem. I'm sure she won't mind if I share this part with my dear friends.... or the whole internet.

"There is a little song I used to like, about how the sun goes around the world to look after allhis children. I wish I could remember the end, but that which I remember is:

Good morning, merry Sunshine,

How did you wake so soon?

You've chased away the little stars

And frightened out the moon.

I saw you go to sleep last night

Before I stopped (ceased?) my playing.

How did you get 'way over there

And where have you been staying?

I never got to sleep, dear,

I just go 'round and see

My little children of the East

Who rise and wait for me.

. . .

Maybe I'm remembering that because you are now 'the little children of the East.'"

My grandma knows thousands of poems, stories, and songs. They often come up in conversation, and I always love to hear her recount the story or sing the song that has come to mind.

My dad does that too, but mostly with songs. If you listen to what he's whistling, you can usually tell what he's thinking about. When we were living with my parents last year, if I was around he was usually whistling that song from "Fiddler on the Roof" where the girl is saying goodbye to her dad at the train station before heading off to Siberia.

Shenyang isn't exactly Siberia. But it's pretty close.

I wish I'd memorized more poems growing up. The only one I ever had to learn for school was "Invictus" in 8th grade. Every once in a while, it pops into my head. Lately, I sing it to the tune of this song. "Invictus" shouldn't make me laugh, but I can't think of a song more different from the poem.

Penny and I read some children's poems together before she goes to sleep, and I've memorized several already. I doubt I'll ever know as many as my grandma does, but it's a step in the right direction.