Grandma and me, 1980
The poem below from my book, Undertow, is about my grandmother, Betty Friedman. In 1925 she married my grandfather, Morris, a Merchant Marine electrician, who traveled overseas for several months out of the year. Being a hardworking and independent woman, she had no trouble managing the affairs of her household alone. I recall many happy memories from my childhood helping with whatever activities she saw fit to teach a young girl. She loved entertaining, cooking and baking, and even crocheted clothes for my dolls. She was never one to rely on modern conveniences like her new clothes dryer.
Woman Hanging Wash
wheels her cart
from the basement
to crisscross
of clothesline
in the narrow
backyardÂ
The girl dangles
her feet from the alley wall
listens for birds
in the bustle
of a summer morning
Grandma in her visor
pegs wash
as the cart creaks along
sheets float
as she fastens corners
Slips and shirts dance
their shadows
Grandma props a pole
so the line won’t sag
The girl hands
pins one by one
while she plays
at keeping house
Inside
the new dryer
gathers dust
A lovely picture and beautifully evocative poem.
What a great post! Great job as always!
Great poem and memories.
I remember meeting her. Always thought she was a great woman and grandma of yours.
Hand me down skills through out time and technology changing has made you the great person you are. I am sure Emma and Riley our granddaughters will have loving memories of you as time goes on.
Lovely.
I love your images! Your writing connects so beautifully with long forgotten memories with Grandma Ruth’s wringer washing machine in her garage and hanging laundry on her back yard lines by garden & chicken coup. One pole was next to the “playhouse” we climbed for so many pretend adventures under the avocado tree. Very nostalgic for me.. whimsy and happy childhood days…
I am going to share this with friend Sam who to this day owns a dryer gathering dust in her laundry room while the Petaluma breezes continue to dry her clothes!!
Always enjoy your posts! Thank you!!