Next Page in Grandmother Madge's Book of Poems.

Alabama College -- 1938-9

There is a very little girl

Who loves to act and play.

She makes a joke of everything

I ever do or say.

Then there's another little girl

Who's blonde as she can be--

She diets--thinks she's getting fat

But she ain't as we can see.

And there's a dark-haired, blue-eyed girl--

An angel in disguise.

Whenever she's around our gang

The time just flies and flies.

Her roommate is as good as gold

Worth twice her weight in it.

But since the early days of spring

She only likes to knit.

And last of all, but not the least

Is the bestest roomy ever.

I hope through all our college days

Our paths will never sever.

And now I guess it's only fair

To write a verse on me.

But what's to say? That really is

Much more than I can see.

April 4, 1939

After Death

The day before you went away

You smiled and held my hand.

You talked of fair lands far away

Beyond a golden strand.

You said that you would travel there

I did not understand

'Til now.

April, 1939 (written in pencil)

(This poem seems oddly prophetic, as my grandmother would herself die just a few years later. Especially the last line is a "dead" giveaway...hahaha dark humour my pretties, dark humour...the melancholic kind, full of black bile and regret.)

APRIL RAIN

Rain of spring--

Tears of Heaven's gladness.

Earth, her child,

Is born anew each year.

April, 1939 (typed out)

ASK WHAT?

What more to ask of thee,

my dear,

Than pain and many a stifled tear?

What more than thou wilt give to me--?

A heartache and a memory.

May, 1939

NIGHT

The great, black blanket of night comes down

And the cold, pearl moon rides high.

The sprinkles of diamonds that twinkle

and sparkle

Are quiet in the thick, dark sky.

The earth is quiet through the midnight hour--

She sleeps in peace and rest--

And rises with a banner red

To follow on her quest.

May, 1939 (written out in pencil)

In the Ancient Days of Nero

May 4, 1939

In the ancient days of Nero

When the ladies had to be so

Very charming and unlearned

Never hurried, never flurried;

When the sign of impoliteness

Was to show the slightest brightness,

Slightest knowledge of the world!

Just to keep their tresses curled

Was the greatest duty of them

And to keep their figures trim.

Oh, the glorious days that have been!

Oh, the days I never have seen!

When the ladies had no duty

Other than to keep their beauty!

What a perfect age to be in,

What a happy age to live in!

So romantic, so unhampered,

So unworried, and so pampered!

That's my idea of a lady!

That's my idea of Arcady!

(Green emoji throwing up.)

(Well you can't expect your grandmother to be perfect. Though she probably tried.)