Rose with no thorn

I've posted many poems about my maternal grandmother.  Today's posting is in honor of my paternal grandmother who was nearly the polar opposite of Mam-maw L.  Elsie Katherine was born on August 26, 1904, and died September 18, 1986.

Elsie Katherine

My other grandmother, unlike my Mam-maw L, was quiet and reserved,

She never spoke too loudly, but got respect as she deserved,

She cooked fried chicken every day, and wore a clean white sweater,

She always sat in a rocking chair, or porch swing, even better,

She was married to a Baptist minister; raised six children during the Depression,

She didn’t say a whole lot, but made a big impression,

She was sweet and kind, gentle and timid; embarrassed easily when teased,

My Dad teased her all the time; but with him she still was pleased,

She didn’t travel any or even leave her house,

She hand-sewed the prettiest quilt tops, as quiet as a mouse,

For Christmas she always received scissors, needles, and white thread,

And I’ll always remember the chamber pot tucked underneath her bed,

She crocheted baby sweaters with matching booties too,

I have several of those for keepsakes, yellow, green and blue,

She passed away in ’86, before our boys were born,

I wish they could have met her; she was a rose without a thorn,

A pink rose as pink was her favorite color,

For to know Elsie Katherine Paschal was to really love her.

Written:  6/11/2016   Tammy Harvey