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Ida Matilda’s Cream Pitcher

Lynda McKinney Lambert - American Author

April 1, 2019

Post #235

National Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month

 

Ida Matilda’s Cream Pitcher

 

 

“Ida Matilda’s Cream Pitcher”

 

I loved to spend endless, languid

days at Grandma’s house, sitting

around her plentiful kitchen table… Ida

 

Matilda’s raisin-filled cookies, sprinkled with

granulated sugar

apple pies and yeast breads served hot from her oven

tart cherry desserts and homemade blackberry jam

I poured fresh cream this morning, from her old ivory

creamer

little piece of McCoy pottery, circa 1940,  Art

Deco, with faded daisies and pale green

leaves, beside

a glass vase of old-fashioned pink roses on a

soft cotton table-cloth, the color of blushing cheeks.

 

Creamers like this had a mate but the open sugar bowl

is lost.

Reservations were never necessary

even when times were tough, she served her 7

children

around the abundant table. A tolerant

Mother, she filled this creamer with sweet  milk  every

day.

 

Patiently I touch the smooth brown glazed handle

Ida’s cream pitcher felt cool in my septuagenarian hand

today. It spilled out the sound of her laughter

caused me to cinch my fingers around it’s girth

Her pale eyes were an ice blue winter sky.

Every time I hold her old cream pitcher it

refreshes memories of fresh whipping cream.

For National Poetry Month, I will post a poem every day of April.

My first poem is in memory of my Grandmother, Ida Matilda Kiesling Kirker.

Wife of James Addison Kirker.  Mother of 7 children.

They lived in The Village of Wurtemburg, in rural western Pennsylvania.

I live in this village where my ancestors lived and I find inspiration for my art and writing in  the landscape and memories of this beautiful little place on earth.

“Ida Matilda’s Cream Pitcher” will be published later this year in:

Star Signs: New & Selected Poems

 

First Published:

Abbie’s Corner of the World, Blog, 2017

About Lynda Lambert

Lynda McKinney Lambert Author's Blog Award-winning ~ * International poetry * Non-fiction stories * Memoirs * Contemporary Poetry * My Author Page: http://www.dldbooks.com/lyndalambert

Comments

Ida Matilda’s Cream Pitcher — 2 Comments

  1. I know what you mean, Donna. From each of my ancestors that I grew up with, I have a small item that puts me in touch with those memories. They are small items that nobody else would find valuable, most likely. But for me, they are the entrance into memories and recollections of my times with each of them. A little creamer, a tiny metal sugar scoop, a vase, a powder compact, a traveling alarm clock in it’s leather case, a hand-crafted, round, oak cutting board. I’ve found that these objects are better than photographs, now that I am a great-grandmother who is blind.

  2. Lynda, First of all, you’re making me hungry. Your poem brought back memories of my own grandmother. It’s interesting how differently I see her now that I’m getting older. Blessings.

↑ Lynda McKinney Lambert - American Author