Poetry

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THE LIVING VINE

That vine hangs all over the house
Where Grandma use to live
All green and alive
And waiting there for all my love to give

I have the house that she lived in
It was left me in her will
But everyone knows as they walk by
That granny lives there still

That house is covered with an ivy vine
From one end to the other
it grows up and down and all around
That vine is the talk of our whole town

It’s been there through all the years
Since granny was a young bride
She brought a sample in a pot
Across the ocean blue
Headed for America
Where her life would be so new

Many times throughout the years
Gramps tried to cut it down
But granny just let out a big loud groan
She said,
“honey if you don’t mind,
Will you please just leave it alone”?

Grow it did and covered every inch of wood
The neighbors said, “Hey Polly I can’t see your house.
Have you ever thought about cutting it down?
Maybe you should"
Granny said, “Heavens no
I’m gonna keep hanging on to that vine as long as I live
All my love to that vine I’ll give”

When I got custody of that house
People from all over town
Would stop to talk and then frown
When I told them that as long as I lived
I would never cut that vine down

It reminds me so much of granny
It will continue to grow
It’s a member of the family
I’m so sure heaven knows
Inside that vine I see Jesus
That vine has a heavenly glow

I painted the house in spots and patches
Left the ivy on all the latches
I mended the doors,
put in new windows and floors
I stood way back inside the woods
To take a big long look
I could see the image of my Granny
smiling from ear to ear
Then I sat down on a friendly stump
And shed some face filled tears.

I moved in that house with my family of four,
there was love from rafter, floor to door
It was Christmas Eve 2004
I was awakened in the middle of the night
I ran to the window and looked outside
Two angels stood there in great light
With long white swords in hand
I could see their lips moving
They had the perfect plan

Their great white wings came up and out
While they perched there on that ledge
They drew their swords and started trimming
I knew what they were doing,
Full-filling a heavenly pledge
They finished their job and flew on out
with those swords by their side
With two long vines of that ivy trailing way behind

Now my granny has her hearts desire
She has a mansion with lots of flair
Covered by an earthly vine
Built by the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords
His promises are good at all times
He’s the vine and we’re the branches
Bearing the golden fruit
That vine is my source of life
As I strive to meet my Granny on the other side

©Mary Alice Bowles
11/27/05

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