What the Grea T-Grandmother Believes in
- What the Grea T-Grandmother Believes in
The great-grandmother believes in mice and cows
and chickens—their warm eggs, manure-smeared shells, occasional blood beads strung to sunflower yolks
and rafters—gold motes in the haymow
and dust—like snow in the morning light, layering the old books
and butterfly and moth dust—wings coated with tiny powdery feathers
and pollen—anthers vibrating inside petals, thick and yellow, velvet released to air
and antlers—their trees-in-winter shapes, the fine and dangerous creatures wearing them
and time and work and words—true words, unspoken words, hurtful words, though she’s taken in but seldom uttered hurtful words
and cottonwoods—their heart leaves, their scratchy music, their summer snow
and rain—rain’s tease, rain’s blessing, rain’s torment
and churches, but only very old, small and listing churches, those needing paint and prayer—about prayer she likes to say, “from my lips to god’s earrings” [End Page 110]
and laughter and children—she believes in everything about children. [End Page 111]
judy brackett has published short fiction and poems in About Place and The Untidy Season: An Anthology of Nebraska Women Poets. She teaches at Sierra College, in Northern California.
