Mum with Lufthansa post war I stopped talking to mother in 1992.
She was put in a hessian sack like the possum
Dad once brought home, all hiss claw and spit.
Better in there with string tied to the top.
walking with papa, Germany
Dad once brought home, all hiss claw and spit.
Better in there with string tied to the top.
walking with papa, GermanyHessian sack became especially rumbly
after I'd done two marriages.
It made shapes against the wall
and tried to grow bigger if I slept.
after I'd done two marriages.
It made shapes against the wall
and tried to grow bigger if I slept.
wartime , GermanyAfter a while shiny claws could be seen
in tiny hessian holes so I threw in
old debts, pledges reneged and made right,
a card,
and waited a few more years.
The sack started looking old and not so sturdy.
I knitted a new one for her.
in tiny hessian holes so I threw in
old debts, pledges reneged and made right,
a card,
and waited a few more years.
The sack started looking old and not so sturdy.
I knitted a new one for her.
Mum and sister, Limerick, IrelandA sack that wasn't eighteen years old.
The old sack would open and her face and
my face would be in the same room.
With words.
I had knitting.
The old sack would open and her face and
my face would be in the same room.
With words.
I had knitting.
Would her face see my face?
Pulling up to number 72,
my heart flattened sideways like cat's ears,
and my tummy turned aboutface to safety.
This house had not seen my face since
it had a bitter red door and no carport.
It looked same/different,
and a very long walk up the garden.
my heart flattened sideways like cat's ears,
and my tummy turned aboutface to safety.
This house had not seen my face since
it had a bitter red door and no carport.
It looked same/different,
and a very long walk up the garden.
Mum aged 31 with me
My cats ear heart and I prepared
and the new knitted sack took a jump in my arms.
Nearby was the letter box, leaning to one side with age.
It was only eighteen inches from the ground.
and the new knitted sack took a jump in my arms.
Nearby was the letter box, leaning to one side with age.
It was only eighteen inches from the ground.
Around it's base was a knitted a cozy.
No other white flag waved as bright or as big that moment.
Our faces saw each other and we did words.
Fresh words instead of old ones and lots of knitting.
I don't need the sack anymore
and Mum wants to give me these
seven dwarfs for guerrilla projects.
Fresh words instead of old ones and lots of knitting.
I don't need the sack anymore
and Mum wants to give me these
seven dwarfs for guerrilla projects.
Yeah.True story.
Who would have thought you could
cross a chasm on a knitted bridge?
Wiping the tears from my eyes, all I can say is that is a sad and beautiful story. Good on you for getting it out. XXX
ReplyDeleteWell I'm teary and happy...The knitted cosy on the letterbox did it for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you knitted that new sack...
Jacky xox
You bloody made me cry woman. Oh I see above that you are making everybody cry. Mothers! So much already said about mothers. So much more to be said no doubt from so many eloquent (and not so eloquent) people. But this is the most beautiful and heartfelt, succinct yet powerful bunch of words I have read about a mother in a long time. So much to recognise in there. About having a mother (even though long dead) and about being a mother. It is helpful, in an odd way, in present circumstances. Bloody sobbing now.
ReplyDeletegrrl, can you take don, jacky, and loanis' words and pretend they're mine? i just don't think i can do any better...
ReplyDeleteyou beautiful, eloquent woman you. xoxo
Grrl, lump in my throat and tears pricking in my eyes. You shine, indeed you do.
ReplyDeleteSeeing that knitted post cosy..... hell's teeth. Thankyou for posting this, for opening your cat's ear heart to all of us. ox
All the best to you both. Life is for living. Good for you! I need a hankie for the tears...
ReplyDeleteThank God for this post...we need to hear stuff like this...it's all about real life and living...thanks for sharing this Grrl...and all the very best wishes to you and your mum.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing where those 'dwarfs" end up!!!
What tragedy made right, what grrl brought "home" again to Mum. Ecstasy to read this. So tight and great with just right words. The photos are perfect. I, too, have a lump in my throat.
ReplyDeletelovely and heartful--family and history and tears and love-- keep knitting those bridges
ReplyDeleteIsn't that amazing - the knitted letterbox cosy. Knitting must be in your blood, the both of you.
ReplyDeleteGlad you & your mum are now cool - you only get one mum & life is too short.
Actually Ginga Squid some of us get more than one but that's another story.Important to make it right if we can, glad you were able to Grrl, with the help of the knitting gene.
ReplyDeleteOh boy ....that letterbox really took me unawares! grrl that is some story! And you write so well. I'm very happy that you have knitted bridges and grateful that you shared such a touching story. We all need more touching stories to start the day!
ReplyDelete(The descriptions of the sack .... excellent!)
Yup
ReplyDeleteCrying now. That tea cosy was an amazing bridge in itself, not to mention the covers for the yellow project. So glad for you and your Mum
Yup
ReplyDeleteCrying now. That tea cosy was an amazing bridge in itself, not to mention the covers for the yellow project. So glad for you and your Mum
Geez guys,
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to....
As a mother myself I hope this never happens with my daughters butat the same time recognise how easy it is in families for the hurt to fester and linger - I am so glad for you Grrl and for your Mum too -I do like stories with happy endings!! peace and happy knitting to you both x oh and I'm having a grand time down in Melbourne!
ReplyDeletewonderful post Denise. It is easy to go down a different path - hard to cross the bridge (which after all is made of strands of tenuous strengths, no?). So good on ya for doing so. You are a heart warrior!
ReplyDeletelove, Jan
a knitted bridge
ReplyDeletefrom the past 2 now
seems lovely 2 me.
keep knitting
but know this--->
the bridge to the future
may need 2 B
even stronger
still.
i hope it has some give
and will take some bounce,
this knitted bridge...
What a wonderful way for your mother to shows she always thought of you. Family dinamics can be impossible at times, but the brave and very lucky work through it.
ReplyDeleteKnitted bridges are the best bridges. XOX
ReplyDeleteYou knit the bridge, Brave Denise and your courageous Mum met you half way across. Beautiful...
ReplyDeleteArt saves lives, I think !
to knit a bridge is the best thing possible- Life happens, choices are made, fear for a wayward child seemingly turns into something not intended- it't all knitted well together in the end - with seven dwarves for comic relief. What a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures!!!
How wonderful to be able to repair, and discover changes are possible when one is a grown up lady. I had a problematic relationship with my mother also.
ReplyDeleteDenise, thank you.
ReplyDeleteloopity loop...nothing like making loops through loops for lifting all things to new heights. yay for you both!
ReplyDeletex
It always amazes me how things, sometimes simple things, can close a gap and reignite a relationship. Your story was beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSeems once barriers come down, the simplest things in life bring us together.......
ReplyDeleteCongrats to both you and your Mom!
Cheers!
where's your mum's blog?
ReplyDeletei'm left breathless - i'm a sucker for family history with black and whites - never gets any better than that.
ReplyDeleteso sad and happy, wishful and wistful. beautiful post grrl, there is something in the air today, this is the second blog that makes me want to cry. roxanne
ReplyDeleteThat was beautiful, I have a tear in my eye from reading it.
ReplyDeleteI'm seeing a beautiful rainbow coloured knitted bridge between the both of you....thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI found this story really, really moving for a whole lot of reasons.
ReplyDeleteSo happy you knitted yourselves together again for better or worse...............
my birthmother, who I have not met since I was 6 weeks old, grew up in Germany and was there during ww2
where did your mother grow up?
email
elizabethwix@hotmail.com
You made my eyes leak. Hope you keep your relationship knitted tight.S
ReplyDeletethat was beautiful...
ReplyDeletei wish my mum was still alive so i could knit a bridge to her.
best wishes and thanks for sharing that
Ribbon
So beautiful, sad, happy, and poetic... thank you for the telling of a life story.
ReplyDeleteKeep knitting...
Nice story big sister, there is a new letter box now so one of better cover it up soon
ReplyDelete