Poems
Ran across a letter from my grandmother to my mother dated Apr 14, 1964, excerpted here: About my poetry - as of now, it seems short lived but perhaps it will return. I'd written a sixth one that I didn't have typed up when you were here.... Have you gotten the operetta written yet? Busy life, isn't it?
4th.
If I have not wealth or fame,
need I feel ashamed?
If my life be true, brave, and clean,
then on the Master I shall lean.
If I seek to do his will,
then I must listen for his voice so still.
If I become weary, troubled and sad as I walk this land,
then Lord let me feel the touch of the Master's hand.
6th.
If I see not beauty in the grass.
If all his love I forpass.
If I feel not his presence in the wind that blows,
ere I see not from whence it comes or where it goes.
The tasks of life so great would be,
if in the end I would not my Saviour see.
I'll explain this poem to you. I was washing so had to walk back and forth to the garage in order to turn the washer off when the pump would start. I was a little weary, then suddenly I saw the grass, it was such a beautiful green blowing in the wind. The wind blew against my face, the soft warm breeze of a spring evening. Then I thought of Dad, how he would explain the spirit was like the wind that you couldn't see where it came from or where it went. But you knew it was there, because you felt it. As I had said or asked in my fourth poem, I had felt the touch of the Master's hand.
I had to go right then and write the poem, was nearing supper time so I felt pressed for time. Maybe it would have been better had I taken out a little more time. I thought I could add to it later, but nothing else came. Perhaps my poetry ends here, who knows!
Love,
Mama Tee
My grandmother's house as I remember it around that time had a concrete block outbuilding for the washer, dryer, and freezer behind the house, with the garage and pump house for the well about 20 yards off on either side. When I saw the how the kitchen and laundry at Destrehan Plantation were in outbuildings behind the house to control fires, it reminded me of my grandmother's house, although she never had any servants. She always worked hard, and reading this puts the little things in perspective... how easy we have it! I also forget how intelligent she is, just because she is 93 years old and got all of her formal education in a 1-room schoolhouse... I can only hope my mind is still as clear and sharp as hers when (and if) I'm 93!
4th.
If I have not wealth or fame,
need I feel ashamed?
If my life be true, brave, and clean,
then on the Master I shall lean.
If I seek to do his will,
then I must listen for his voice so still.
If I become weary, troubled and sad as I walk this land,
then Lord let me feel the touch of the Master's hand.
6th.
If I see not beauty in the grass.
If all his love I forpass.
If I feel not his presence in the wind that blows,
ere I see not from whence it comes or where it goes.
The tasks of life so great would be,
if in the end I would not my Saviour see.
I'll explain this poem to you. I was washing so had to walk back and forth to the garage in order to turn the washer off when the pump would start. I was a little weary, then suddenly I saw the grass, it was such a beautiful green blowing in the wind. The wind blew against my face, the soft warm breeze of a spring evening. Then I thought of Dad, how he would explain the spirit was like the wind that you couldn't see where it came from or where it went. But you knew it was there, because you felt it. As I had said or asked in my fourth poem, I had felt the touch of the Master's hand.
I had to go right then and write the poem, was nearing supper time so I felt pressed for time. Maybe it would have been better had I taken out a little more time. I thought I could add to it later, but nothing else came. Perhaps my poetry ends here, who knows!
Love,
Mama Tee
My grandmother's house as I remember it around that time had a concrete block outbuilding for the washer, dryer, and freezer behind the house, with the garage and pump house for the well about 20 yards off on either side. When I saw the how the kitchen and laundry at Destrehan Plantation were in outbuildings behind the house to control fires, it reminded me of my grandmother's house, although she never had any servants. She always worked hard, and reading this puts the little things in perspective... how easy we have it! I also forget how intelligent she is, just because she is 93 years old and got all of her formal education in a 1-room schoolhouse... I can only hope my mind is still as clear and sharp as hers when (and if) I'm 93!