GRANDMA'S RECIPE
Grandma found us sitting
on the old linoleum floor,
Little stair-step babies,
less than two and three and four,
Drinking Jello, watered down,
our chins and fingers red;
Empty stomachs, empty shelves,
and Mama sick in bed.
Grandma bathed the babies,
put a smile on Mama's face,
Then went to buy a thing or two
to mix with love and grace.
She washed and cooked sweet, tender greens
and baked a pan of bread;
"Pot-liquor over cornbread cures most everything," she said.
Later I would learn the simple truth
she spoke that day
And how "pot-liquor" works so well
when served in Grandma's way:
It only works like Grandma's did,
I came to understand,
When it is made and served with grace
and with a loving hand.
R. Joan Geiger 1-20-92
| Note about Pot Liquor: Janet Ames [Ken's sister] writes -- "We [herself and Joan Geiger] thought maybe pot liquor was only a southern expression, but find that it is in the dictionary, meaning "the water that is left after boiling vegetables or meat". I grew up only being familiar with pot liquor being left from cooking turnip greens. This was especially good when served in a cup mixed with corn bread! This is still probably eaten these days - but my sons would probably not have ever heard of it! " |
