Reanimated Lavender Granola Switchblade Nun rides again.

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Aunt B.

She was my favorite aunt

With the big laugh

And the ashtray always close at hand.



My father's half sister,

I still miss her at odd times

And wish I could sit with her again now.



No matter what silly thing I had to say,

She would always pass the time of day

With me while one of her dogs snored away beneath the table.



She loved her mutts

And her Tigers on the radio.

She loved women too, I think,

Though now I guess I'll never know for sure.



The day she was buried was the last day I drank.

I arrived late and stayed late at the cemetery,

Where the overturned earth looked weirdly like chocolate cake.



I hope that where you've gone is as sweet as you always were to me.

I love you, Aunt B.

That's all I really wrote this poem to say.

________

for Thursday Think Tank #50 at Poets United.

Book cover: "The Well Of Loneliness" by Radclyffe Hall. My aunt had this book in her little glassed-in book case where she kept her special books. It's an early lesbian classic, but by the time I realized that, it was too late to ask her about it. Anyway, I'd love to hear her infectious laugh again.
_______

20 comments:

  1. smiles. a beautiful remembrance of her shay...she sounds like quite the lady...

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  2. I love the sound of her - she sounds a lot like my mom, who was also quite a character - dyed hair, bright lipstick, always a ciggie in her hand, big laugh and a big heart. I love this tribute, Shay.

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  3. How wonderful that you had someone so special in your life.

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  4. What a touching poem about a favorite aunt. It sounds as if she was as lucky to know you as you were to know her.

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  5. I'm sorry you did not get to know your aunt with more depth. Perhaps one of your spirits can channel her voice, and she can come to life through a poem?

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  6. The thing I miss about my Grandfather is the smell of Navy coffee and cigarette smoke in the morning. Odd, I know, but true. That man was too unique to live. I miss him...

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  7. I'm speechless. not because I can't think of anything to say but because nothing I could say would make any difference.

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  8. We mark our passage in this life by the ones we've loved. We take part of them with us just as they take part of us-I always wonder if they know that?

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  9. Such a lovely tribute to your aunt...your poem helps us get to know her a little. Sounds like you were both blessed to know each other.

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  10. Lovely, I hope where she is now is sweet too. :)

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  11. Mine was my Aunt Helen ......

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  12. Such a touching remembrance. She sounds like an amazing woman. She reminds me of my grandma, who died on Valentine's Day in 1994. She was the sweetest woman I'd ever known who always had a big smile for me no matter what the world was throwing at her (and it threw a lot at her). I miss her.

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  13. That's lovely. And something to think about - we should all have those conversations.

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  14. I think we all have a character like your Aunt B. in our families somehwere.

    Lovely tribute, Shay.

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  15. yes, we all have people we are fond of that we think of often. great poem

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  16. A well-crafted somber tribute. I agree... we all can relate to someone like that. Thanks for the memories.

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  17. What a tribute; your description was sweet and sad~ Well Done~ I'm sorry for your loss!

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  18. What a beautiful tribute Shay! Job well done....now we all remember her too...and for a moment, as we all read about her, through your memories....she smiles wherever she is.

    ~alaurilee

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  19. Mine was Aunt Dottie. We are both lucky to have had that special one.

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Spirit, what do you wish to tell us?