And Then She’d Laugh

A picture of Nanny,

a grandma too soon lost,

but a picture so like her,

it captures a lifetime.

The background is almost black,

maybe night outside,

barely noticed blue curtains almost blend with the dark;

the white of the window

and a little white orb,

possibly a candle,

is the only color there,

besides my grandma

surprised at the camera.

A little off center

showing from her shoulders up

she stands,

as if suddenly turned to answer the call of

‘Marie’

or ‘Mom’

or the cry of a grandchild.

Turned abruptly she met with a flash

a candid moment capture but surely her best.

If you knew my grandma

then surely you’d know

that after this picture was take she would laugh,

a laugh so contagious

because that’s who she was.

And if you really knew my grandma

then surely you’d know

(that if she wasn’t cooking)

she was probably holding one of her grandchildren

in this picture

because she lived for them,

and she would knit

and cook

and sing for them:

‘I love you, a bushel and a peck”

Or maybe in this picture

she might’ve been cooking for her family

like she did daily.

A traditional Italian woman,

and one of the best,

she lived to serve

her family

her children

and her grandchildren:

‘A bushel and a peck and you make my heart a wreck’

Her off pink shirt was cleanly pressed,

her salt and pepper hair,

natural, and curly like mine.

Her enormous glasses rimmed in a dash of brown color

they reflect her eyes

and her surprise

and the flash of light:

‘I love you, a bushel and a peck’

Her mouth half open with surprise

show her two front teeth with a little space in between,

eyebrows high,

and eyes open wide,

body half turned,

unseen hands busy with food or with child,

always handled with care

and I can still hear her singing as if she is right here:

‘Yes I do,’

She probably laughed her full laugh after the moment was captured

and patted her hair,

and stirred her fresh pot of sauce,

and kissed a grandchild

because that’s who she was:

‘I love you,’

This picture captures who she is:

surprised

and open,

and always busy with love,

and then she’d finish her song with:

                                                                                                                                                                                       

‘Scooby Doo’

And then she’d laugh.