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An Old Woman's
Ramblings The Poems of Sarah Grace Pitchford Lee |
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Sarah Grace Pitchford Lee was born 29 May 1914 in Phoenix, MS. She was a nurse's aide at the Vicksburg (MS) Hospital from 1952 until her retirement. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Vicksburg. Her husband Charles Avner Lee (11 Sep 1910 - 2 Jun 1960) was a veteran of World War II. It is obvious from her writings that she missed him very much after his passing. Sarah Grace went on to join him 26 Sep 1996.
Widowhood doesn't get Sarah Grace down. She visits friends in Florida and sits on their "patty hoe," she enjoys discovering the 3:00 a.m. yard work of Mrs. O'Connor, and she goes to the fair and comes home exhausted, "ached an' pained an' said, 'No more fair!"
In the poem below, "Golden Oldies," Sarah Grace tells us about getting old -- being lonely, being lonesome, and what it's like to be all but forgotten. In her poems, we learn that her husband and her only brother have both died. Bereft of family, she watches through tears as her very best friend "Donna Moved Today." In "The Sound of Rain," she reveals she is losing her hearing. As she has grown older, her old home town, Phoenix, MS, has all but faded away, the people dying away, and this saddens her, too, reminding all of us of that familiar line, "you can't go home again." Still, her memories are there to stay and are precious, as she writes in "A Big Yellow Moon."
At times, she writes poems like prayers. Though she was familiarly called Gussie, I have retained her lovely name, Sarah Grace, because its spelling expresses the way Sarah Grace believed: God's Redemption At Christ's Expense. Her poems continue her life's witness.
Through all she faces, Sarah Grace finds strength in her friendships, in her sense of humor, and in her trust in the Lord. None of them fail her.
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Love Story of Buffie and B
each have a very small dog. One whose name is Buffie The other one is B.
Now Buffie and B met the other night and do you know it was love at first sight. B went up to Buffie and gave her a kiss, right on the end of her nose. And she just shivered, right down to her cute little toes.
They walked down the street side by side Talking "doggie talk" Then B kissed Buffie again right on her cute little chin, And this is how "Love Story" began.
Now each day when they come out They meet with eyes aglow B kisses Buffie and Buffie kisses B. And down the street they go Talking their little "Doggie talk." Doing their little "doggie walk" And saying, I'm sure, "I love you." Street Cleaning I looked out my window this morning along about three o'clock, And you would never believe what I saw on the corner of the block.
There was little Mrs. O'Connor sweeping up the street. Then she knelt and gently dusted the marigolds at her feet.
Then she washed off the air conditioner, nice and clean, and straightened up her lilies that had begun to lean.
Then she sprinkled red hot pepper all along the side of her yard. To keep the neighbors little dog From tromping down the sod.
It never dawned on me before The sights that you might see. If you raise the shade and look out along about three.
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My Prayer
to face tomorrow, another bright summer day.
And Lord give me courage to put out my hand to someone along life's way.
Make me humble and kind to those who are worse off than me. And maybe, Lord, I can make them see how merciful You can be.
We left town at the crack of dawn. Two busloads of us rollin' along.
We landed there at straight up ten. They opened the gates and let us all in.
Up and down the runway all the day. Seeing everything from soup to hay.
We boarded the bus at straight up eight. Believe me boys that's sort of late.
We rolled in home 'bout midnight opened the door and turned on the light.
Fell into bed with a great big groan - An' said "OOH Lord, thank God we're home."
All next day from my feet to my hair I ached an' pained an' said "No more fair." |
Let me tell you about My Golden Years That have now begun To be sprinkled with tears.
I'm left alone more and more each day And my friends seem to be So far away. Everyone says if you need me, call. But here I sit and look at the wall. And I just can't bring myself to call.
Because I know they are busy, you see. And really shouldn't be bothered with me. I guess I got the Blues, Lord. As I sit here in my chair And I don't mean to complain, Lord, Because I know they care. So forgive my rambling, Lord. Thanks for listening to me. |
I did not know until today That Doc Capers eyes were blue. They have a special little twinkle, when he looks at you.
Now as you know, Mr. Capers will soon be 93. He's a source of information and background history.
He can tell you all about Vicksburg, and how it grew. How he strived to become a doctor, A dream that never came true.
He stopped to take care of his mother a wonderful lady I'm sure. And so he went to work in a store. If you ask him, "Have you lived all of your life here?" He will answer quick, "No, thank God, life's not over yet!" |
It's raining here tonight, Lord, as I sit in my rocking chair and I thought how wonderful to hear the sound of rain.
And then to hear it fade away like the ending of God's day and I thought how I had always thought the sound of rain was here to stay but it's not, it's fading fast away.
Then I shed a tear for when I cannot hear the sound of rain again. Then I said, Please forgive my complaining, Lord - I still have eyes to see all the beautiful, wonderful things created just for me. So thanks for listening. Thanks again and again, from someone going deaf. |
There's a big yellow moon in the sky tonight and it brings back memories to me. How we sat in the swing and Lee with his harp played music soft and low.
I guess I'm getting older and my hair is turning gray and my mind drifts back more often to yesterday.
The wind shook the trees with a soft summer breeze and the big yellow moon seemed to say keep your memories, child. They are here to stay. |