POEM - OATMEAL WITH BROWN SUGAR

(From Blue Tomato’s Sketch Journal)

OATMEAL WITH BROWN SUGAR

Grandma slurped Eight O-clock coffee

from a thick white saucer

at the wooden side table.

Her long muslin apron was already tied

round her frail waist,

over her homemade gingham dress.

Underneath she wore thick hose

knotted at the knee.

In sturdy black oxfords

she stirred the oatmeal bubbling

in a double boiler

on the back burner

of our tiny Magic Chef stove.

She spooned it out for my breakfast

adding brown sugar,

butter and canned milk,

while the Germans were invading Europe.