Photo of a leaf that fell into my hair, a perfect yellow star on marathon weekend by Nicole Speulda 10.24.09
On another long Thursday where a constant spittle of rain has personified my attitude, I am happy to say the lightning and thunder of the last hour has kicked me into a clarifying frame of mind. Today's offering comes from that neon gold folder I took out of the archives about a month ago for the first time in years. This is a poem by my own Nana, something I found on two slips of the 6x9 inch pad of paper she used to write on in her ever elegant cursive, an unmistakable font that made grocery lists look like the Bill of Rights and turned birthday cards into important documents with the signature flourish.
I like this very much. I remember reading this once before but it’s beautiful to re-discover. The thing I love about this most? The paper I’m looking at is the original and she has crossed out the second to last line. Originally it read “I’ll smile, put out my hand…” But she changed it and I love the final draft. Why is this important? Because even my Nana, not known for being a poet, was one and she thought about her words enough to want to edit or re-do something. I know the feeling. To be true to the paper, she signed it "Maggi" and the g's look lovely.
A Plan
by "Nana" Margaret Cook
I wish I were a flower
Hanging on a vine,
Or a pretty little bluebird
In the sunshine.
I might be a raindrop
To give a rose a drink,
Or a golden sunbeam
I’d like that, I think.
I could be a rainbow
To cheer a troubled heart
All this would be nice
But where do I start?
I could stand in the shadow
Of a red maple tree,
The take a tiny step-
Then another, then three.
It isn’t very difficult
To begin my plan of cheer,
I’ll smile and say hello
And welcome all who hear.
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