GRAN
By Costa Rica Bart
Her name was Edra
But I always knew her as Gran
She was born in 1907
In Crossno, Missouri
She was a longtime resident
Of Mississippi County, Arkansas
She was a farmer
That loved her family so much
She worked so hard
To put them through college
My mother told stories
Of how hard my aunt and uncle worked
Out in the fields
Even after the paid workers left
But she told me
My Gran worked as hard as any man
And they never gave up
She lived through the Great Depression
And the Mississippi River Flood
She was the glue
That held our family together
As a child
We made so many memories
Riding in her big Mercury car
And riding horses in the yard
Running trot lines in a small boat
and Hiding in my Mothers car again
Sliding down the tin roof barn
Riding in her bean truck to the gin
Swinging in her side yard with my brother and Kin
And throwing tomatoes at the barn
She didn't whip me hard
I knew it was wrong.. I told her I wouldn’t do it again
She didn't whip me hard
I knew it was wrong
But I still loved her so strong
She was the glue
That held our family together
Our family gathered
During Thanksgiving and Christmas
She cooked on two stoves
And made every grandchild
Their favorite dish
It was always
A happy celebration of family
We did this every year
Every summer, on Saturdays
She took us to the pool
And sat in the sun
While we swam
She always went to church on Sundays
And picked pecans every year
As a child
I was amazed
She was the glue
That held our family together
Now most of my family is gone
And I miss them every day
I hold my head up high
And say my Gran’s name was Edra
And we miss her every day
We will always miss
The love she gave us
Each and every day
