Thursday, March 06, 2008

Goodbyes

[This week Totally Optional Prompts encouraged us to write with a different voice. I had trouble deciding whose voice I could use instead. Then I thought of this. More details after the poem.]



Goodbyes

I'm so glad you came over today!
It seems you just got here
and now you're leaving again.
I wish you could stay longer.
I miss you when you are away.
I wish you came home more often.

Be careful getting back.
Airplanes are so dangerous.
They slide right off the runway!
You tell the pilot to take care of you.
I worry until I hear you are ok.
Make sure you call as soon as you can.

Don't forget about me!
I know you are busy studying,
but don't forget about your old Aunt Odie!

Give me a hug now!
This could be the last time I see you.
I am awful old.







[My great-aunt Odie was born in 1899 and lived to be about 90. Every time I headed back to college, I heard something very much like this from her. The last two lines were always accompanied by sobs. She was still alive when I graduated, and for years after that.]


17 comments:

Tumblewords: said...

I didn't know Aunt Odie, of course, but this sounds just like her! Nice work!

sister AE said...

Thanks! Just imagine her with what some folks call a "flat midwestern twang."

Anonymous said...

I was kind of finding this difficult. But look at my mom, I hit goldmine!

I love yours!

sister AE said...

Hi, Gautami. Thanks! I'll be by to read yours soon.

Crafty Green Poet said...

I can hear her voice in this!

Stan Ski said...

I'd have called her 'fussy' - or something when I was younger, but i'd take that kind of concern 24/7 these days

anthonynorth said...

I'll be approaching this zone of life soon. My kids are spread all around my country. I'll remember this one.

paisley said...

perfect voice.. i can picture her saying just this.....

sister AE said...

Thanks, all! Aunt Odie would have been tickled that you like this, although I'm not sure she would have appreciated this particular poem as much as some of my others.

Anonymous said...

this is wonderful, I really enjoyed it.

Maria said...

When I was younger, I would have rolled my eyes and called her foolish. Now...I am Aunt Odie.

sister AE said...

Thanks, UL.

Hi, Maria. Thanks. I'm not there yet myself, but I can see some of the trends.

Tiel Aisha Ansari said...

Oh dear, we do turn into our elders, don't we? Don't worry, I'm sure there are worse people that your Aunt Odie that you could be turning into!

sister AE said...

Thanks, Tiel! And you are right.

Anonymous said...

Nice job! I think we all have an aging relative who sounds much like that. :)

Andy Sewina said...

Sounds like a golden Oldie!

sister AE said...

Hello, Mad Kane. Thanks. Those who don't are missing out - the good and the bad.

Thanks, Andy.