Grandmothers

I was never
close to
grandmothers

Never had

that soul-searching

talk

I was seen

and not heard

Approved but

not approached

Too young

to leave

impressions

I guess

on ones so old.

But I was loved

by grandmothers

A treat

of some kind

was given

At meals

I was not

forgotten

Or by small

kindnesses

unearned

I learned

that grandmothers

remember

I learned

that grandmothers

forget

Just as I

have forgotten

much

that grandmothers

said

But have

always remembered

the way

it was expressed.