Friday, August 19, 2011

Ode to Nana


The 15th anniversary of my grandmother's death was recently. She lived a long and happy life (up until she got sick with dementia the last several months of her life). She was almost 87, when she died, when I was just 13. I wrote a detailed post on my other blog, but I would like to include a poem here, that I wrote when I was just a young teenager, about a year after she died. Thanks, Nana, for all you did to make me a better person. I was so shy growing up that I didn't have a lot of friends, but you were always there for me to talk to growing up. I know you are smiling down on me with the angels. I know you are not just "resting in peace", you are dancing and clapping in praise to Jesus with all your might!

Nana's Song

Needing to hear some good advice

Needing to see a gentle face

I miss my Nana tonight

The smile of a happy greeting

The voice and the look of a deepful thought

Yes I miss her as I miss as I hear my Nana's song!

The song so full of love and beauty.


Together we hung the clothes across the line

Basking in the greatness of the simple moment

In the smells and love of summer sunshine

A ladybug landed upon the woven basket

“Look Nana” the child cried with glee

Oh yes, that is a little wingling.


In the excitement of the moment

The freshly cleaned linen dropped to the ground,fin

The child expected an angry word

But was held close in the loving arms of Nana

In that special way which makes a child feel like gold.


That night only one was willing to go

To go to her pretty church upon the hill

Arm in arm with Nana I proudly walked.

I hear her voice still as she said

This is my baby, my Libby's child.


The “Old Rugged Cross” we sang that night

Her voice so strong and sweet

She tells me of her Father's love

O how I miss her so!


Tonight, I miss the song of Nana

Wanting that heart to listen with care

Tonight I miss the different beauty

Strengthened by the wisdom's touch

Tonight I hear her singing

Singing with the angels

In our final home up in the sky!


Monday, August 08, 2011

Lost Your Head Blues



This is a blues song by Bessie Smith called "Lost your Head Blues" that we listened to this week in Music Appreciation. The other musicians at the recording session said that Smith completely used improvisation in this piece because they needed one more song to make use of the time they had in the studio. Its amazing that something like this came off the top of her head.

I was also required by my professor to write lyrics for a blues song yesterday. I thought about what made me the "bluest" in the last year. As some of y'all know, I had a stalker last year. Even after the year long restraining order ended, he showed up at my house in April. When I wouldn't see him, he attended my church for a few weeks in May in hopes of seeing me (I was working lots of extra overtime in May). He has not been seen in 3 months. I am free from fear now, but I wrote a little diddy about how blue I felt at the time. I think my feelings are similar to that of a lot of other victims. I am not a song writer by any means, but it is kinda amusing and interesting. Here is the "Stalker Boy Blues".

I have the stalker boy blues,

This kind of follower a girl just does not choose

To think I'd love you makes you seem so obtuse

Why must you think I'm the girl you just can't lose?


Stalker boy, Stalker boy what are ya thinkin'

If I had my way you’d be in a frickin' cell

But to see you in court a year would just be livin' hell!

You think you're so good your junk don't even prickin' smell.


I have the stalker boy blues,
Why is it my phone you must continue to abuse?

To say you really were my friend was really just a ruse.

To let you keep on watching me is something I refuse!

Bye bye, stalker boy, my temper's lit a fuze!

Yes, I've got the stalker boy blues.


Psa 40:1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psa 40:2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
Psa 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.