Saturday, January 14, 2012

Funeral Soup

My grandma had a recipe;
If you’ve heard of wedding soup,
Well, this was something different.
She made it when someone kicked the bucket.
I knew when relatives were gone,
As 5AM brought garlic wafting
To my room. It wasn’t pleasant
And I guess that was the point.
Funeral soup was meant she said
To make us thankful. We joked
We’d rather have the coffin
Than the soup. I never realized
How much I appreciated the
Gesture until the day grandma
Herself took ill and died.
It’s impossible to say how
Sad I was that she was gone.
But I knew precisely what
She would have done.
I found an old pot of hers
Under the sink and went to work
With garlic and whatever I could find.
A half-hour past before I tasted it.
Something in the soup was missing.
I leaned closer and a tear fell in.
It tasted like it always had.

11 comments:

  1. Awwww, what an awesome tribute to your grandma. I never had one (both died young), so I don't know what I missed, but I do spoil my grandkids shamelessly. :-) xoxo

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  2. Funny how many things I've eaten lately topped with tears. I think this a beautiful testament to your grandmother! And beautifully written!

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  3. Fern: Me too :(

    Marion: I only had one, Marion as one had died before I was born.

    Annie: HUG. HUG. HUG.

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  4. This has to be one of the saddest poems I have ever read. this brought a tear to my eye...thank you for sharing!

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  5. Are you having any problems commenting on any blogger sites?

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    Replies
    1. I'm having trouble commenting, Wander...which is why I'm replying to you instead of commenting.

      Ben, this is really really beautiful. Very moving.

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  6. it's a really good sentimental piece. and it's told as a story, which has a ton of power. very nice.

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  7. Thanks, Ed. I don't usually write the longer poems but I'm happy to know people got so much from the effort I put in :-)

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