Lemurian City of Ladies

PASSIBLY OLD

I was late for the mornin’ palaver, (broken gate hinge needed fix-up)
so missed some of the warm-up
to gittin’ Chester and Tommy Lee
a flappin’ arms and grittin’ teeth. (they be fishin’ buddies)

“she got to go cus her boy says so!” (lot of words for Chester)

“Them Wilson’s been up ta ridge fer
two hunart years passin’, an’ if Jess
hear the wild goose call to move ta
flatland –
well, his opinion don’t weigh much” (he lost to Jess in wrestle match)

I stood there lookin’ blank, and Squire
opinioned I should be filled in so as ta
pick sides er wander off. (Seems Squire playing judge)

Came to be that Auntie Bess had
received a letter from young Jess Wilson,
who had moved the city a spell back.
He wanted her help in packin’
Granny Wilson down to be put in some nursin’
home fer carrin’, now that old Gus
was planted in the garden rather then
tuther way ‘round. (Jess didn’t come atall fer burin’)

Now likin’ Granny or not was not important,
any more than carrin’ for that boulder in
the middle of the road – just was. There
never had been a time ‘memberin’ when
she wasn’t rockin’ on the porch of her cabin
first light and after stars were out. Never did
nuthin’, said nuthin’ or hurt nuthin’ (so I’ve been told)

“Ain’t like we’ll miss her none.” (Fercus was young and didn’t count)

“Maybe yer mom will be next smarty” (won’t own up to that)

I listened for an hour or so and found
that there were as many sides as people,
and none quite the same – but seemed
a tilt toward there being something wrong
about removing a person from the only
home they had ever known.

Then the Parson ambles by and acts
like he knows everything that’s been said.

“Anybody ask Granny what she wants?”

Now Auntie Bess give out a hee-haw
from over the wash tub works – and
pretend Judge Hawkins look sheepish. (think he was nappin’)

Everyone turns to gaze at the porch,
knowin’ Granny has been hearing every word,
or hearin’ nuthin’ fer bein’ plumb deaf.

Parson calls out, “Well Granny –
you want to stay here with all yer friends,
er go down to that nice city place?” (Granny quits rockin’)

“Hear they have regular meals, ‘n nurses
to fuss over ya, and a fine bed with sheets,
‘n a TV goin’ all the time, ‘n Bingo playin’,
‘n indoor plumbin’ too.”

Granny leans over the rail and points
her shakey walkin’ stick at Will. (he runs the store)

“An’ whose goin’ ta watch the town fer ya?”

She sits back down and starts rockin’ again (chair never stopped)

Just then young Jeb Barlow brings Granny
a plate of fixins and a mug a cider.

“How long ya been doin’ that?” asks Chester

“Couple a years since Granny alerted Will
that my brother Ben was a thrashin’ ‘bout
in the creek there that Sunday.”

“Yeh, I remember her whackin’ that railing
something fierce – thought the windmill had
broken a gear again.” (Tommy looked strange)

“and Bess has been doing her washin’
fer ever too – says she feels safe with
the kids playin’ in the yard there with
Granny rockin’ watch.” (Squire speaks up)

Then folks start sharin’ how other towns
have problems with petty thievin’,
and fightin’ dogs in the street,
‘n kids just lazin’ around the store.

Then Tommy Lee makes a speech –
standin’ on the boulder with a thumb
in his shirt. (Get’s a nod from the Parson)

“I don’t know what old means, I guess –
I’m not up to what I used to be doin’,
but don’t plan to just do nuthin’ – be nuthin’.
I learned ta read from my Grandma
‘n know she would withered away without
doin’ her part with cookin’ and fixin’.
So I guess it’s a question of getting’ rid
of all old folk – or appreciatin’ them all.”

“Maybe them city people are just afraid
of thinking about dying.” (Chester just lost his pa)

“Maybe with all those ‘lectronic gadgets
they’re already dead inside” (Fred appeared from no where)

“Hey Granny. You ain’t shkeert a dyin’
are you?

“Not yet!” (She’s smilin’ first time I remember)

“Hey Parson – what ya have to say?” (Squire just Squire again)

but the Parson is already down the trail –

I show them a note he had scrawled
on a piece of bark.

“All or nothing at all”

Must be in scripture some where.