Story Poem

Polly White


Grandma Rhoda had been an independent woman all her life able
Bodied and strong willed.

She raised a family without a husband and when the grandchildren
Came along she took care of them too!
They lived together as one big family with everyone taking care
Of their assigned chores
Every morning she went to work arriving at seven-thirty on the dot
To start her job at eight o'clock in the restaurant where she would
Cook up a batch of delicious dishes one after another
Grandma's satisfaction came from the fact that she was able to please
Her customers and at the same time earn her bread and butter so
that she could take care of the family
One morning Grandma arrived at the restaurant at seven-thirty
And had just started to put on her apron when she was called by
The manager who gave her a pink slip
Grandma took out her glasses
And read the notice to the best of her ability, " You are hereby given
Two weeks notice to quit your position as cook due to fact that
The company is downsizing," the notice said.
Grandma took off her glasses put it in her pocket book and went
About her task as usual, hoping that the manager would change his
Mind about letting her go
However, after the notice expired she had to pack up her belongings
And leave the job that she had been doing for over twelve years
She went home with a heavy heart, but she took an oath that she
Would not rest until she could find another position
Every morning Grandma would go job hunting trying to find a position
As a cook; she looked here and there, but no one was hiring then
She decided that she would look for a job as a nanny, a housekeeper, or
Perhaps a health aide …… so she took the time to acquire the skills and
The necessary training and a current resume , but still there was no
job to be had …. She had, had interviews, but the interviewers took
One look at her and decided that she was way past forty .
They did not know that Grandma was" a woman who wore many hats,"
And that she still had the ability to learn and work at almost any job.
Grandma went back home to her family; getting up early every morning
To cook breakfast, and to get the children ready for school after which
She would take care of the household chores, read, and sleep
With each passing day she became quieter and quieter and on
Some days she refused to speak.
One afternoon the grandchildren came home from school and found
Grandma asleep in her favorite chair; they tried to wake
Her, but she would not stir; her children came rushing to see what had
Happened, but on arrival Grandma was not responding!
Grandma went home to heaven at the age of forty-seven
Her early arrival was attributed to a broken heart!


Enimreh