Grandmother's Memorial Day Poem

by Jemmer
(San Jose, CA)

I have a cousin whose grandmother I call “Granny” even though we are not really sure we are related. Granny is like a real grandmother to me because she treats me as if I am the first grandchild of one of her own children. When I visit her she tells me great stories from her past.

One story I have heard many times is how she lost her first husband. Granny and Ted planned to get married at the end of the war.

She begins the story with a glow to her face, as if she were still in that time. Her face changes expression when she remembers Ted kissing her goodby as he was leaving for the troop. He promises to return and says with great conviction that they will live happily ever after. She remembers how afraid she was.

Months passed, then years. When the war ended, there was no Ted who came back. He remains missing until this day. The happy marriage was not to be.

Granny said she cried for many months. She told me the war had robbed her life. Even today, she says she still loves Ted.

But life moves on. Grandpa Joe was there to comfort her, and in time she learned to love the younger brother of Ted.

In all of this, I came to reflect that love survives over time and space. Granny's story confirms my perception about love and relationships.

Grandmother's Memorial Day Poem

Memorial days can be sad or happy ones.
Sad for we think of lost loved ones,
happy for they died as heroes...

In all of the conflicts of any war
Love lives and triumphs over hate.
In the end, when all start to love,
they all become heroes