Letter to Blanche
Dear Grandma Blanche,
I know it’s been a long time
since I have written
I was only seven
when you met heaven
But I want you to know
in case you’re not watching
that as I grew
I was more like you
Sure, crossword puzzles and
acrostics and such we share,
but playing by ear?
Piano, my dear!
That gift of gab we were
both born/cursed with
Talking to all
Talking to walls…
Yes, I got that, too
Manic depression, haunting
Sometimes “crazy,”
sometimes “lazy”
in the eyes of others, that is,
bound as they are by convention
They don’t see through
like we do
Thanks for teaching me manners,
That conversation with your hostess is never
better than your words
with servers of hors d’oeuvres
Thank you for the music knack
the restless spirit, the lifelong struggle
And if I learn it
Let me earn it
Love, Amer
© 2013 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
dverse Poetry Pub wanted us to harken back to the age of writing letters. I’ve been writing more letters lately, if only to help the struggling post office. But writing a letter to someone dear who’s dead is a challenge.
I write about Blanche, my maternal grandmother, a lot. Gone for some 50 years, I still feel her presence in my life. She had that knack of talking to people where they were, no matter what race, gender orientation… she spoke truth to power and often ending up in a cruel sanitarium for doing so. She is my HERO. God rest your soul, Blanche. Love, Amy
This is also “in the margins” at my poetic lily pad, Imaginary Garden With Real Toads.
Sharp Little Pencil 
claudia
what a cool letter – and how cool as well to discover some of her talents and character traits in your own life as well… my eldest daughter is in many ways like my mom and it often moves me deeply how close they are as well
Sharp Little Pencil
Claudia, in the nature vs. nurture conundrum, I’ve always felt “nature” gets short shrift. A lot of these qualities I didn’t realize until my mother pointed them out. I have vague memories of Blanche playing piano, but I didn’t know it was by ear. Also, I knew she was very sad at the end but didn’t know about the bipolar until years later…
Glad you see in your family what I’m writing about here! Amy
Gemma Wiseman
Clearly you have a very intimate soul connection with your grandmother. Such a connection is priceless. Love, in your final thanks, you both share a restless spirit.
Sharp Little Pencil
I am Blanche’s girl as much as I am Mom’s. Her fingerprints are all over my life, my DNA, and my talents. Yes, restless indeed. Thanks, Gemma.
kaykuala
Lucky you Amelita! You would have been exposed to a treasure trove of goodness. In the formative years that would be a tremendous privilege. It was more of the companionship and interaction that lingered on all these years. So touching and so beautiful,Ma’am!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, love you too. You always have nice comments and see what I’m trying to convey. I am still surrounded by Blanche’s love every day… it’s like the African tradition that the ancestors are around, helping you. I feel her presence in vibrant moments, and her comfort when things get rough (depression), knowing she endured shock treatments… Thanks, hon. Amelita
on thehomefrontandbeyond
she spoke truth to power–no wonder you admire her
Sharp Little Pencil
Ah, LouAnn, you already know me so well! Thanks for this gracious comment. Amy
on thehomefrontandbeyond
🙂
Sherry Blue Sky
Oh I so love this, Amy. My grandma taught me manners too and I remember mortifying her, at tea with the ladies when I was four by saying “HAH?? Miss Hicks?” when I didnt hear the question. Going home she teased me soundly….”HAAAAHAHHHHHHHH Miss Hicks?” fairly chomping with delight, at the same time making the point. I didnt do THAT again!
Sharp Little Pencil
HaaaaaaaH Miss Sherry! Glad you have those memories. Calling them up is a wonderful way of keeping our grandmothers’ legacies alive… Love, Amy
ninotaziz
Oh Amy. I love letters to grandmothers. My grandmother passed away when I was 45. And I am glad my children got to know her.
ninotaziz
I am by the way ninotazia d/o bang tim d/o chu rahmah d/o yangchik d/o bebunga. So I would like to write to Bebunga one day…
Sharp Little Pencil
Ninotaziz, I look forward to reading about your great-great-great grandmother. It’s beautiful to know one’s heritage many generations back… the best I have is Blanche’s mother and mother-in-law. Both were kind of mean ladies, best as I can tell, but they were near and dear to one hell of a woman in Blanche.
My mom died when I was 35, so little Riley, only 3 then, still has a few memories of her Grandma Charlotte. Thanks, coming to your blog now! Amy
Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
Both my grandmothers have passed away since long, and there is a mystery in their life that I can never know. I can look at them as young women and try to understand what they thought then… I have been told I have a lot of my grandfather in me, but I never knew him in that way, Just as an old man that usually scared me… great letter Amy, and so glad you can write this to her.
Sharp Little Pencil
Bjorn, in the way that grandmothers relate to daughters, I’m sure your father sees your grandfather in you. Lots of traits skip a generation! I am glad that I wrote this one, too… she was an incredible, complicated woman masquerading as a Depression -era housewife. Amy
brian miller
smiles…if i learn it let me earn it….i still have my gramma…one at least…all my other grands were gone by the time i was 10….i think though my grandfather on boths sides left an impression on me even though i was young….seeing some of them in us…its a wonderful thing eh….cool rhyme scheme to this as well amy…
Sharp Little Pencil
Hearing you call it a cool rhyme scheme makes my day! And yes, that last part was t he crux of the whole poem, since Blanche was a self-taught, lifelong learner, as am I. Thanks, Brian! A
Mary
How neat that even though your grandma died when you were quite young that you can still recognize that you have some of the same characteristics as your grandmother had. You are lucky you knew her. And it seems she taught you soe very good lessons. My grandma died when I was six, and I only knew her as an elderly woman (blind) who sat in a straight chair. I remember leading her to the kitchen table when it was time to eat. And then I remember when she died. Those are MY only grandma memories.
Sharp Little Pencil
They are sad memories, sort of in stasis, but they are YOURS, Mary. No one can take them from you. I never knew my paternal grandparents as my dad was 46 when I was born… so there are no memories there, either. I understand. Peace, Amy
eusebeiaphilos
You are blessed to have such strong, influential memories of your grandma. After all these years she still is a part of your life. She’d be honored to read your poem/letter to her. Well done.
Sharp Little Pencil
Believe it or not, I actually read this one aloud to her. I often feel her presence in everyday moments or miraculous ones… Thanks! Amy
Lisa A.Williams
This lovely write brought back so many memories of my paternal grandmother who died when I was 14. She was a loving and very kind lady, miss her very much.
Sharp Little Pencil
Lisa, my heart goes out to you. It’s hard to lose loved ones at any age… and when you really love them, it cuts so deep, feels so unfair…
Susan
Oh wonderful, wonderful to have such a kindred spirit and guide. Yoe make it intimate and detailed, as if continuing the conversation. Frame this for your message wall.
Sharp Little Pencil
Susan, what a lovely comment. Perhaps I’ll get some parchment paper and hand-write a copy for my office. Have to find a fountain pen, though, because she even did the Sunday Times crossword in that ink!
Josie Two Shoes
This was wonderful and sentimental too. I bet it wasn’t easy to write. Being so much like her is indeed a blessing and a curse, but it has formed you into an amazing woman who is also a force to be reckoned with. I am certain that you have made her very proud!
Sharp Little Pencil
Josie, this was actually quite easy to write. It’s filled with memories, stories Mom told me through the years, plus my “family history” snap-tight mind… which contrasts with my steel-sieve short term memory… sigh…
I’m coming over to see you now. GET READY…
Beth Winter
Beautiful. My grandmother, though gone, remains with me every day.
Sharp Little Pencil
Beth, I hear you. Every day, there’s a Blanche moment…
Nataša Dolenc (@Natasek86)
this is beautiful.. such an emotional letter…it’s interesting to see what we have of our great parents in us, although they may have not been there when we were growing up. it adds up the mystery in not knowing how they lived, in a different time…
Sharp Little Pencil
Natasa, thanks for stopping by! It’s true, the time and place give them all a different context. For example, Blanche was ahead of her time. She could have had a marvelous career as a librarian… she was IN LOVE with books, especially old ones… I keep several shelves of old books myself. Love the smell! Now on to explore your blog! Amy
Audrey Howitt
You are so lucky to have such clear memories–this is a beautiful write Amy!
Sharp Little Pencil
These memories were recounted often by my mother and me. Mom had that same gift of gab and oh, the stories she’d tell when she was drinking! Always the same, never changed, so I knew they were real… and those precious memories of Blanche. I feel blessed for knowing her, even for a short time and a few visits. Thanks Audrey, Amy
Liz Rice-Sosne
This was alive and spectacular. I really enjoyed it.
jacquelinecaseypoetry
There is real love there…if you write a note to them after they are gone.
jlynn sheridan
You must get your gift for poetry from her, as well. Words and music. What a sweet memory.
georgefloreswrite
Another great poem that strikes a chord in me, and you and I know why 😉
Rosemary Nissen-Wade (@SnakyPoet)
How wonderful to have such a woman in your life. Your poem says it well. (I still treasure a grandmother who died when I was four.)
kelvin s.m.
..sure she did watch you every now & then… and proud… really proud that you could write a letter for her & inspire many in the world… whenever i wrote a letter to a dead loved one or friend i would seal it in a mail envelop & burn it outside watching the letters translate into mist & fly above until it reached. heaven where my recipients happily live…. smiles… loved this Amy… thanks..
thoughts220
“And if I learn it
Let me earn it” – My favourite lines.
I guess, it is a bit soothing to realize that if the dead loved ones were with us today, they would be happy to see how we turned out, at least going by what your poem speaks. To share joys and similarities with the one who is long gone and missed with so much love…it must be a beautiful feeling.
Great poem. 🙂
Rowan Taw
It’s so lovely to hear of the similarities between you and your Grandmother (she sounds quite a character)…and has me thinking now about my own.
Misky
Bless those memories of our grandmothers who encouraged us to do what our mothers often wished we wouldn’t … yes, a free and restless spirit is an aim with pursuing, in my opinion. Nice one, Amy.
Anne V
Gorgeous. Made me think of my grandma. Maybe I ought to pay her a visit this weekend. Thank you for that. You’re the angel of the week.
Cressida de Nova
Lovely Grandma Blanche still lives , through you Amy!
Sumana Roy
the wonderful letter reveals a frank spirit………
Sara v
That is a true gift to be able to talk to everyone. God bless Blanche and you
🙂
shanyns
What an amazing poem letter to your Grandma. She sounds, like you, to be an amazing woman.