I usually don’t revisit the same subject so soon, but Poetic Bloomings had a prompt with such specifics (a great-grandfather, a pocketwatch, a camera, getting film developed) to one I just wrote about my Great-grandpa Dunn that I though he deserved a special remembrance. I’m looking at the portrait as I write this… Mom looks so little, like a puppy standing next to Gary Cooper. So thanks, Marie Elena and Walt, for reading my mind! Peace, Amy
Portrait of Great-grandpa and Mom
Mom told me her Grandpa
died on the tracks
The storied train conductor
lay down to relax
and died as he’d lived
in his suit so fine
Forty-some years working
the Rock Island Line
They found him, right hand flung out
They opened his palm
His prized pocket-watch was
still perfect as a Psalm
They went to the shack
built around his prize
A massive telescope;
Mars seen with his own eyes
and papers lined in ink
detailed her Grandpa’s plan
that someday on the moon
a spaceship we would land
Mom spied a camera
sitting on a shelf
slipped it her in pocket;
this, she’d do herself
Three pictures on that film
One of his cherished Scope
One, her grandma making
homemade lavender soap
The last, my mom and grandpa
Great-grandfather Dunn
In full conductor-timepiece suit…
to his long leg she clung
That picture, now in sepia
hangs upon my wall
A testament to dreamers
no matter how they fall
In death, he chose his exit
In life, he held such hope
Great-grandma washed his broken body
in homemade lavender soap
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
Sharp Little Pencil 
vivinfrance
Affection, humour and a gift for storytelling are the attributes of this poem. Bravo, Amy.
ViVx
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, thank you so much for this affirmation! I come from a long line of storytellers (and a few bullshitters!). These stories of my Irish roots all came directly from my mother, especially when she was “in her cups.” I know they are true because the stories never “grew” or got more exaggerated over time… and yes, always affection for my mom’s family, the soil from which the musical and poetic Amy spring! Love, Amy
booguloo
A nice portrait.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Michael! Amy
claudia
the homemade lavender soap gave me goosebumps amy…what a story…masterfully told
Sharp Little Pencil
Making your own soap was common in the Midwest in those days, and Irish families usually brought the body home to prepare for burial, so it seemed fitting. Thanks so much, Claudia. Amy
Poetic Bloomings
Oh, Amy … WONDERFUL piece, this. So full of life, even when speaking of death.
AND … did I ever tell you that I too have a Grandpa Dunn? 😉
Sharp Little Pencil
No way! Are your Dunns from Iowa? Any Laughlins or Gordons falling out of your family tree? (wink) Amy
Poetic Bloomings
Oh, btw, this is Marie Elena (just noticed I’m signed in under Poetic Bloomings.
Sharp Little Pencil
I kinda figured that. It didn’t sound Walt-ish, and I’m not sure if he has any Irish ancestry…! Thanks for the compliments. Love, Amy
Roger Green
Lovely family imagery. I’m a sucker, tho, for references to the Rock Island Line, especially as done by Leadbelly.
Sharp Little Pencil
I had a feeling the phrase “Rock Island Line” would bloom into song in your mind… as it did in mine! Thanks so much, Roger! Amy
Inside the Mind of Isadora
I love the line the last line. Very poignant …. a beautiful testament to a very special man who worked with pride to bring hope for those who followed.
Tender, Amer
Hugs,
Izzy
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, Izzy, thanks for this. He was very, very wonderful to my mother when she was a little girl, taught her all the constellations, let her look through the telescope. And the scope itself was donated to Drake University in Iowa. A lovely comment, thanks – Amer
Pat Hatt
Such great rhythm and rhyme to your verse, giving your tribute that much more of a powerful impact, nice you know about your past too and great job describing it.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Pat. My mom told me stories all the time – the funny along with the sad and the bittersweet. She would love your comment, God rest her! Amy
Debbie
I’m glad you couldn’t resist doing another! Thank you!
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Debbie. It was kismet… the stars of Marie and Walt were in alignment with mine. Scary!! LOL Amy
kaykuala
A great grandpa and a memory. The pocket watch is still being kept? They don’t make them these days as they did before!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
The pocketwatch ended up with one of Great-grandpa Dunn’s male relatives back in Council Bluffs. Since my mom didn’t keep up contact with them, I have never met any of my Iowa relatives. But you’re right – they don’t make them like they used to!! Thanks, hon. Amy
Mike Patrick
I looked at that prompt and thought of forwarding it to you. The pocket watch and photograph stood out so clearly as belonging to the conductor of your previous poem. Providence steps in when there is more to be written.
Sharp Little Pencil
Mike, thanks for your thoughtfulness. I actually though Marie and Walt were channeling a vibe from me; uncanny, isn’t it, the GREA-grandfather and the pocketwatch?
And you are right; I went ahead and came up with something different. Serendipity? Providence? I look forward to knowing all about it someday… thanks, Mike! Amy
sarsm
I really like this.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Sarah! Amy
MiskMask
Gorgeous. Riveting to the last word. Simply lovely, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Marilyn, so glad you liked this one. Like I said, it was riding the coattails of another poem about him… weird co=inky-dink! Amy
charlesmashburn
Very nice tribute. I have to tell you though, that last bit about washing grandpa in soup kind of made my eyebrow shoot up. Maybe I don’t get it? I’m kind of old and very redneck, ya know.
Sharp Little Pencil
Oh, it’s OK. Just take another look… it’s lavender SOAP. Folks used to make their own all the time. I can see why you must have gotten, in my vernacular, skeeved out!
Also, the old Irish way was to bring the body home, wash and tend to it yourself, and lay out the body for a wake, do the funeral, then either come back and drink or go to a bar and tell stories of the dearly departed. Thanks, Charles. Amy
dreamingthruthetwilight
Very ,very touching. Was he around , when you were a child? If not, then it’s very strange that such empathy exists between you tow. I haven’t seen either my maternal of paternal grandparents and that’s a regret I’ve always had.
Sharp Little Pencil
Nadira, a thoughtful question, thanks. Will Dunn was MY great-grandfather, my mom’s grandpa. No, never met him, but Mom’s stories about my nutty Irish family, in which alcohol, stays in mental institutions, and poverty somehow sounded like a grand adventure, always included him. My paternal grandparents were gone before my birth; my materal grandmother, Blanche, makes a lot of appearances in my poetry, as does my grandpa, Bill. They both died when I was young, but I did inherit Blanche’s manic depression, gift of gab, lack of snobbery, intolerance of racism and homophobia (and willingness to speak truth to power), love of crossword puzzles, and the ability to play piano by ear. So she’s my guardian angel! Peace, my friend. Amy
wolfsrosebud
Great way of coming full circle…
Sharp Little Pencil
He went the way he wanted, in his own time. And in those days, our family did tend bodies at home… thanks, hon! Amy
Lafemmeroar
Written so simply with such vivid and emotional images. Well done … loved it 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Femme! This turned out to be one of my favorites, because it evokes a bygone era… guess I’m a throwback, huh? LOL Amy
contemplativemoorings
Nice rhymes 🙂
But I feel bad for granddad…
Sharp Little Pencil
At least he is at peace… Thanks, Michael. Amy
laurie kolp
I’d love to see the picture, Amy.
Sharp Little Pencil
Come on over!! Oh, gee, I don’t have a scanner… but if I get it scanned, I will post it. Thanks for asking. Amy
Renee Espriu
So glad you revisited the memories and did justice to some wonderful people.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Renee. Great-grandpa was a terribly depressed person, but he lived with integrity until he couldn’t hold the facade anymore. And Mom is the one who told me all the stories, years ago. Thanks so much for this, Amy
scrambled7
Wow, this is really good.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thank you, Scram. Let me come visit you now! Amy
madeleine sara
Fun last verse: In death, he chose his exit
In life, he held such hope
Great-grandma washed his broken body
in homemade lavender soap
Sharp Little Pencil
That’s how they did it back then. Family tended the bodies of their loved ones, no formaldehyde, no impersonal funeral parlor. Just say goodbye and pull out the bootleg whisky! Amy
christine
wow, you tied that all so nicely together, beautiful
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks so much, Christine! Peace, Amy