GRANDMA’S SPRING
THE WAY I DRANK SPRING WATER WHEN I WAS GROWING UP
WAS FLAT UPON MY FRONTSIDE, I NEEDED GLASS NOR CUP
NO WAY COULD I BEEN CHOSEN BY GIDEON IN GOD’S PLAN
FOR THE SOLDIERS THAT HE PICKED HAD TO LAP FROM THEIR CUPPED HAND
THOSE WHO LAY PRONE ON THE GROUND AS I DID WHEN A CHILD
WERE NOT ALERT ENOUGH TO FIGHT AND DRIVE THE ENEMY WILD
FOR ME THERE WAS NO DANGER; AT LEAST I DID NOT THINK
OF ANY REASON NOT TO TRY THAT ONE BEST WAY TO DRINK
UNLESS, IN ANGER, MAMA ASKED, “HOW DID YOU GET THAT STUFF
ALL OVER YOUR NEW SUNDAY DRESS?” WAS SURE REASON ENOUGH
BUT, I JUST KEPT ON LYING DOWN TO DRINK GOOD~O
EVERYTIME AT GRANDMA’S HOUSE WHERE I DEARLY LOVED TO GO
OH, THE GOOD COLD WATERMELON COOLED OFF IN GRANDMA’S SPRING
MADE US AN AFTERNOON DESSERT FIT FOR ANY KING
SHE KEPT THE MILK AND BUTTER IN THE SPRING ALL DAY
BEFORE WE ATE IT WITH CORNBREAD DEAR GRANDPA WOULD PRAY,
“THANK YOU FOR OUR SUPPER HERE; ALL BLESSINGS THAT YOU BRING”
SILENTLY I’D SAY TO GOD, “AND THANK YOU FOR THE SPRING”
WE WOULD KNOW, IF SPRINGS COULD TALK, SINCE I WAS GROWING UP
THE THOUSANDS THAT HAVE STOPPED HERE TO SLURP OR USE A CUP
WE’D KNOW THE FRIENDLY GREETING OF ALL WHO RESTED HERE
BENEATH THE LOVELY SHADE TREES, THEY CAME FROM FAR AND NEAR
AND NOW, FOR THIS NEW SPRING HOUSE WE’VE GATHERED ONCE AGAIN
TO DEDICATE IT TO THE LORD FOR ALL OUR KITH AND KIN
WE PRAY HIS LIVING WATERS WILL FLOW THROUGH US ALWAYS
AND GRANDMA’S SPRING KEEPS FLOWING FOR ALL OUR EARTHLY DAYS
BY: NELLE MOFFITT ALLEN
JULY 28, 1985
