Grandma’s Hands

I wonder what mum and grandma are thinking

Mum was born after the First World War

A child of the roaring twenties

Then she became a poor teenager, of the great depression

And a young nurse, during the horror’s of a second World War

A time when everyone’s supplies were rationed

 

Everyone helped each other, when things run out

Everyone knew a son, that been killed in the war

Everyone gave you a soft shoulder to lean on

Everyone shared each others pain

Our parents and grandparents survived

And taught us compassion, and the value of every single life

 

 

 

Ivor Steven (c)  March 2020

Published by

ivor20

G'day, and welcome to my blog site. My name is Ivor Steven, I live in Geelong, Australia. I'm an ex-industrial chemist, and a retired plumber, and a former Carer of my wife(Carole), for 30 years, who suffered from severe MS. I Write poetry about those personal thoughts, throughout and beyond my life as a Carer. I've been blogging for over 2 years, and writing poems for 19 years. Of course a lot of my poems are about my favourite subject Carole, but since I've been blogging my writings have become quite varied, humourous, mystical, observational, and even a few monster/horror poems.

71 thoughts on “Grandma’s Hands”

    1. Derrick, I thought I knew everything about my mother, but then she died and I realised I wanted to ask so much more. You know lots about your family, probably more than I did about mine, but please keep asking. There’s still much more . Mum was born 1921.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes Carolyn It’s a lovely old photo, my grandma’s holding a little Pomeranian, and Ironically , for Carole and me, our first little dog was a little Pomeranian…. …and my dad is they cuddling mum… 🧡🧡🧡

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Our little girl (Ming) was loving and loyal…… when Carole first became sick…. she wouldn’t leave her in bed, and stayed with her all night…. xxx

        Liked by 1 person

  1. Somehow the people during that time were a different kind. They were the people who built the modern Australia the values of help and support continued. As I grew up in Australia these values were strong. A different breed or people type are with us now of uncaring, greedy, selfish who only think of themselves. Something has got to give or change.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. I have thought of my grandparents quite often these last couple of days. They survived the depression and world war II. They often talked about those times and their habits of saving and taking care of things were a product of what they had gone through. My daughter, their great granddaughter, mentioned them yesterday as we were talking about empty grocery shelves. She said she now understood them so much better. I believe we will get through this and be stronger and more compassionate because of the difficulty.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m truly hoping that people start remembering about their grandparents, trials and tribulations…. and draw on the spirit of their glorious souls, for the inner strength that we all need……
      Thank you Elizabeth for gorgeous story about your daughter and granddaughter…. I’m typing here with tears of joy streaming down my cheeks…. ()h heck… another wet keyboard).
      💙🌏

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are welcome Ivor. 🙂 And thank you for bringing our grandparents to life with your words. My parents died young, so my grandparents are especially dear to me. I love knowing that there are others that feel the same about this wonderful generation of people. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I like this, a lot.
    People today are a different breed from those who put up with so much during and after WW2. The U.K. endured 14 years of rationing, 1 egg per family per week! This lot are going to need to dig very deep to find the long lost spirit of sharing and caring! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Not really, but I’m not going out much… my poetry groups have closed… the library is shut down… maybe a walk to my Moorabool Valley cafe… or a drive down to the Box Office Cafe

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Ok Sue, I’m just out of bed, and I had do an article for ‘Go Dog Go Cafe’ this morning… anyhow that’s done now…. I’ll post it on my site later… I do adore your ‘Owl and Mouse’ tales xxx

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Just fine! Missouri’s starting to get more strict. We’re some of the last people to get it, if you believe the reported numbers, which… yeah. Anyway, working from home.
        Considering the state of things, I’m really much happier than I’m supposed to be. You?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Lots of restrictions here in Australia, but I’m reasonably comfortable…..at the moment Geelong has only 3 reported cases….. stay safe… stay welll…..xxx

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes… I’ve already had people offer to do some shopping for me, and ring-up to check on me, knowing that I live on my own, and that I don’t like driving much these days….. it’s very heart warming…

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I hope more people will step up and do good works during this time instead of wallowing in self-pity and being selfish. Many here in the USA are not heeding the mandates for social distancing. I am hoping these struggles can lead more people towards being more compassionate like you’ve described in your poem. Your mum and grandma seem like they were such lovely, kind women!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. My grandma brought up 10 kids during those tough times….. they all knew about compassion….
      with love from the heart….. not fake love from the purse-strings……. 💙💙🌏

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I fear that is what has happened to the most recent generations. Love is not money or things…one of the more unfortunate byproducts of the consumer culture we have now. I’m sure they would never have hoarded toilet paper!

        Liked by 1 person

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