Grandma's Treasure Box
Each of us
when we reached 14
would make the Visit to
Grandmothers house
to see what was inside
her Treasure Box;
the Family Treasure Box
where each year
one of us
got to see
what she had
hidden there..
My Dad had been;
my older brother
had been
and now it was my turn
to see that part of
Family History.
No one who'd seen
could talk of it.
No one could reveal to anyone
what was in Grandma's secret box.
No one did.
No one would risk
Grandmother's upset.
She lived beneath
the 'L' in Chicago
refusing to move
and they built
the tracks
right over her house;
each time one passed
it rocked her house
like rolling thunder;
Varoom, clacky clack
another one
going by.
Stubborn was not the word
for Grandmother.
She still wrote letters
30 years later
to every Mayor
complaining about the
tracks and the trains
saying she wanted them torn down.
Every month a letter.
Grandmother never
gave up;
never forgot;
fierce in her loves
fierce about her neighborhood
fierce about things which displeasured her
fierce about family
fierce about everything.
I sat with her,
apron on:
she served me pie.
'Sonny' she said
now you at the age
where you need to
learn grown-up things.
Like your Dad and brother
your turn now come
to see what drives
this family;
our family heirloom so to speak.
You'll see now.
As you grow up
you hear people talking about it
but we are the only family that
has it in our treasure box.
Lot's want it
but we the only one's
that has it.
She walked me up her tiny
narrow stair case to the attic
my head spinning,
wondering what it could be.
What did we have in our family
that the whole world wanted?
The treasure box was small;
a faded gold color
with a hand-carved lid
covered by Grandma's
liver-spotted hand
which shook in the dim
light.
She shifted the box,
opening it with a tiny key
smiling faintly
her eyes moistening
as a sliver of sunlight
reflected into the opening box
and I could just begin to
see what was inside.
'There it is'
she said
'What is it? ' I said,
staring at a piece of cloth;
satin sheen
with a lace border.
'Every since your great
grandmother got
it has been the luck of this family
and so people's all over the
world hear about but
we the only one's who got it.
'What is it?
Your great great grandmother's;
cut from her mother's wedding dress
and from that day
this families' luck changed.
I looked at her eyes
looking for an answer there.
'Grandma what is it?
You heard of the Silver Lining'
Yes, I said.
Well this family has the only one.
It is the Silver Lining from your great, great,
grandmothers wedding dress.
Grandma had it
and she believed it had saved our family
all these years.
'I took it out when
your mother had her cancer
and she got better
and it took away her pain.
I took it out when your younger brother
had his accident, and he lived.
I took it out when your grandfather went to war
and he came home safe.
I take it out when ever this family needs things.
It is our Silver Lining.
Now you must never speak
or tell what is in the treasure box
or it will break the spell.
I never did to this day
Today I have the Treasure Box
waiting for my child
to have a chance to see.
Grandma's gone
leaving behind her Silver Lining
for the rest of us.
And on some days
I do take it out
when things look
like they might go bad.
Just for luck.
Everyone
is always
looking for a Silver Lining
and some luck.
All the Grandmothers
gave us ours.
poem by Lonnie Hicks
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Related quotes
More McCornack Family Memories
Looking through old photos
Of family members from the past
Sure do bring back memories
That will forever and ever last
Grandma with her great grandkids
A sweet smile upon her face
Puts me back to yesterday
So much history I can trace
For I see the house she lived in
When different events took place
There’s Grandpa enjoying family
He too has a smiling face
Oh look at my brother Robert
So young he was back then
So handsome and charming
With his shy and happy grin
Friends and family members
Are carved in a photo album
Old folks when we visited them
Always gave us so much wisdom
We can’t turn back the clocks
But albums are like treasuries
They are passed down forever
To share the family memories!
poem by Marilyn Lott
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“My Family”
My family is very strong like me
My family is actually very sweet
My family can be a little strict
My family always acts like this
My family is not always boring
When my family has things to do their flying and soaring
My family is actually sometimes crazy
Their even sometimes very lazy
Me trying to think about the facts of my family
Makes me laugh because I know I have a great family highly
poem by Va Rockeya Foy
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This is not a family
This is not a family...
No not to me... a family is people who are there for you they are the people that you trust to make sure your okay they are the people that believe in you and they are the people who will never lie to you and always be honest
This is not a family...
For a family its pretty sad to think we treat one another as nothing talk to eachother as if we dont care for one another and backstab and walk on one another because we can
This is not a family...
I use to think i had it good till i grew up and relized family shouldnt bring eachother down... family shouldnt make you cry... family shouldnt make you think you will be nothing and stay nothing for....
This is not a family...
Instead its just a sad excuse of people who put up with eachother not because they want to but because they have to... for this family that i have i hope that all of you will soon relize before its too late that i love my family... and i believe in my family... and that even though my household is not right at all... i know that i will become something... not because you make me think i cant... its because i believe in myself and with that i know i will someday do great things...
FOR this is not a family...
but it is my family
poem by Andrea Thanasas
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My 'So Called' Family
They were cool
They were real
Now they take us for a fool
Hey, I'm jus telling u how i feel
Around my family I have to act fake
I'm not talkin bout my mother or my so called brother
for cry sake
To my family I'm jus anotha
They'll smile to ur face
and talk behind ur back
but they'll neva kno their place
and why I try to keep this family in tack
We're tired of this
drama, on my mother'z side
To me, it felt we all got dissed
Since my grandmother died
My grandmother was the glue that holds everythng 2gatha
but when she passed it all fell apart
and that's when I said bye to my family 4eva
If only they could find the love in their heart
Then they would understand how I feel
Then there will be no more pain
and only love to steal
and they could be flushed down the drain
poem by Cece Chisolm
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Cretin Family
I am not so upset about my horrible self
But why don't you go upset yourself
Hey here's the mirror see your stupid face
What a disgrace man and you know it's true
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Everyone's against me
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Oi-oi-oi-oi
Don't stare at me it's freakin' me out
Look what's happening now it's all your fault
You can't do nothin' absolutely nothing' o.k.
Why don't you get a hoola hoop
and do the cretin hop and
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Everyone's against me
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Oi-oi-oi-oi
I am never wrong don't tell me what to do
Here's a little curse it's from me to you
It's nothin' gonna happen nothin' ever will
You'll be miserable every day your luck will always be bad
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Everyone's against me
Cretin family Cretin family Cretin family
Oi-oi-oi-oi
Everyone's against me
Oi-oi-oi-oi
Everyone's against me
Oi-oi-oi-oi
Everyone's against me
Oi-oi-oi-oi
Everyone's against me
Oi-oi-oi-oi
song performed by by Ramones from Adios Amigos
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silver
Nirvana- Silver
Mom and dad went to a show
They dropped me off at Grandpa Joe's
I kicked and screamed, said please don't go
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Had to eat my dinner there
Mashed potatoes and stuff like that
I couldn't chew my meats too good
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
She said, well, don't you start your crying
Go outside and ride your bike
That's what I did, I killed my toe
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
After dinner, I had ice cream
I fell asleep and watched TV
I woke up in my mother's arms
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
Grandma take me home
I wanna be alone
song performed by by Nirvana
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Silver Lining
My muffins are in the toaster
I got my raspberry jam
My grandfather was a sailor
That came onto this land
And he was looking for gold,
A pretty hand to hold,
Or some cards to fold.
At least, thats what I was told.
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
Turn on my tv
They got talking heads in space
Used to be so easy
To have a little faith
I used to rely on luck
I didnt feel so stuck
Could earn an honest buck
Without lookin round, like jon kruk.
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
I used to have hope
Now we got soap on a rope
I used to have dreams
Now we got overplayed baseball teams
We got grocery baggers, grafitti taggers,
Golf-ball shaggers, go team go.
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
My landlord knocks upon my door
Hes got that payday face
I swear to God he should be payin me
To live inside this place
Its filled with sharks and fins
Whose double chins say
Thicken your skin, child
If you want to win
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
I fix myself some herbal tea
Cause its healthier they say
Well, healthier aint half as fun
I take a cold beer anyday
I used to have dysfunctional fun
In the cancerous sun
With my co-dependent hon
Eatin greasy greasy hotdogs on a buttered up bun
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
Silver lining
Silver lining, whered you go?
[scat solo]
Repeat refrain. (x2)
song performed by by Jewel
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My great Family
My parents are great as god
My brother mean more to me
more than my life.
My family will forever be in my heart
My family is more important than my friends
Family is family
Who allways with me in my happiness
and sadness
My family is allways in front of my Victory
not behind me
My family is who i can fully trust in this world.
my family is secret diary for me.
poem by Neethu Nandakumar
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Family?
Do, I have a Family?
If you ask me
I have no family merely associates
For families are genarally suppose to be filled with love
Mine is filled with hatred and with pain.
I am the perfect example of a 21st century family
Due to the mishaps of this world, my mother is a single parent
Much like now most of the world.
And as the years go by it only gets worse.
Families used to be loving, or at least that's what I 've heard.
Why can't we bring back family to what it was?
A mother, a father and children, living under one roof with love
For me, for years I lived afraid for my life, a confused little girl
Without a helpful hand in sight.
Everytime I trusted a man I got burned in the proccess
Only six yet I was afraid because of this.
Because of my 'so-called' family.
Why do they do this to me? !
I can never even look upon my 'brother' the same
For to me he is no longer a brother.
And I do not know how to express my pain, with sorrow or laughter?
Someone please save me from this disaster!
Who do you run to for help
When your family is causing the pain
And the matters are to far- fetched for the police?
Who do you trust and who do you call?
Definetly not your family.
So, now again I ask you
DO I HAVE A FAMILY?
poem by Ashley Stone
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Death of a family
Drinking and fighting.
Fighting and drinking.
When does it ever end?
What ever happened to the word 'Family'?
Does it exist any more?
Mother against daughter.
Daughter against Mother.
How can you hate your own blood?
When the Matriarch of our
family died, the beautiful rug
that was our family unraveled with
her. Now, I feel as if the family
rug has unraveled down to me.
I am now left to mourn the tragic
death of my great grandmother and
my family. Is there anybody out
there who can save me from this
ocean of despair?
poem by Jamal Brown
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Family I love
love my family with my hold heart.
My love is Joy to love my family
Family is sad and happy and love.
Family is fun and painful and pretty.
My family is like all families we have
love and we have happiness and tears
I love my hold family
My family is like angels who fly in sky
I am grateful that I have family that loves
me.
My family are kind and nice and fun to be
around
My family is painful like all familys are and
heart breaking and Evil sometimes
My family is heart breaking and deadly like
everyone else
Hey I can't stop loving my family not matter what
it coats in the family.
Way my family is just makes me want have family
with someone be as good as they are.
But God know I love my family
and our love is great to have in life
and even know they leave he world they still
a live in my hearts.
poem by Kristina Riggs
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From the Diary of a Mimes
At my grandmothers house, you will see a hundred years of family portraits. We are a family of mimes. The portraits are of mimes.
You may ask why would someone wish to be a mime? For it is a limited existence beings that a mime s a simile of a single frame photograph. Look at the pictures at grandmothers house, do you feel the pain? This is my pain.
Becoming a mime.
I was six or seven years old. Grandmother and I were sitting in her living room, I had slept over at her house for a weekend while mom, dad and little brother tend to other things. Grandmother was in an odd mood today. She looked at her pictures and smiled some. And cried a little." I think its time you wore your mime face." She said. Today you will learn how to become a mime." So I said" Yes madman she proceeded to make up my face.
As she put on my makeup she started to cry. She cried for a long time. I was a little girl I started crying as well. I could not watch my grandmother cry without shedding tears of my own. So we sat and cried.
'Why are we crying' I asked? 'Well dear, sometimes life deals you a hard enough blow that even a mime will cry." I said 'Ok.'I was soon to find out what she meant. This is the day I learned a safe place for a heart to be. I learned that a person could freeze emotions and save them for future use. Yes place them in a jar, to be opened at an appropriate time. For that is what I do. You see I write a sad story, open a jar of tears and cry for a minute.
So after a good cry, grandmother took my hand and led me to the foyer wondered why I had to wear my mime face. Well grandmother had hers on, so I thought it must be a family thing, and I did not question. We sat under the foyer, was hot.New Orleans is a hot place at certain times of the year. There was no breeze, was still as could be. Nothing moved, except perhaps the webs a few lucky spiders, the ones who had prey to close in on.
'God bless mother nature, child. Its infinite wisdom, allows all creatures sustenance 'Uhh grandmother, that is a spider. Kill it, mom does.''No." She says, this is his house. If he were in mine, then I would kill him, but he lives here and kills insects.'
'You say he" I asked." How do you know it is a male spider? " She sighs." I do not know.' So I ask." Then why do you say it is a male? " It is taken for granted that any unknown sex is referred to as he. God is male." I answer" God could be a woman. I do not think anyone knows Gods sex grandmother. The world would be better if God was a female.''Perhaps so child." She answers, " Perhaps so.'
'Your father used to say that when he was your age. Always a philosophy with him." And her eye tiered up again. But I saw her turn to ice of a sudden. The tears dried. Then a long white car pulled up in the driveway, grandmother took my hand and we walked to the car. A man in a grey uniform opened the door and we sat inside. 'I will remember every detail of this day. For this is where my life changed.'
The car drove us to a big fancy building, it was full of mimes dressed in black. Even as a child I realized that something was wrong, so many mimes, all crying and made up in misery faces. I wondered why. They all parted as grandmother and I entered the building.
It was an odd place. Sad sounding music reminded me of harmonies of sorrow, organs and moans and tears. There were 3 pretty boxes in the center of the room. People were all around, most of them mimes, most were crying. 'Grand mother, what is in the boxes? 'I asked." Why do all the mimes look into them and cry? ''Never mind my child. Just be a mime.'
'Well if my daddy was here he would pick me up and I could see what was in the boxes." My grandmother looked down at me and started to cry, and the tears flowed." Brace yourself girl." She said. Then she picked me up. Eagerly I looked over the side of the box. In it was the reason I became a mime. I saw my fathers body made up to be a mime laying with his hands together as if he were praying. My brother and mother the same in other boxes. I knew they had passed away.
It was hard on a little girl, to have it etched into her mind.I kicked and screamed till grandmother set me on my feet. I ran out of the room and never spoke another word until this day.
I do not like this one much.
Spinsters Legacy
Great Grandma’s walnut cabinet.
In my house still holds pride of place,
displays her treasures even yet.
Fine china that we could not replace
A solid silver tea service.
Presented to her when she wed,
Objets D’Art beyond all price.
Rare curios she collected.
It has passed down the family.
Mother to daughter faithfully
by each one cared for carefully.
Until at last it came to me.
I have no children never wed
so this tradition ends with me.
I have decided when I am dead,
this piece of local history.
Should be on show for all to see
I have bequeathed it clear and free.
To a museum locally
in honour of her memory.
I have no living kith or kin
with me will die the family tree
I had a brother Benjamin
but he died young, a tragedy.
(11-Aug-07)
poem by Ivor Or Ivor.e Hogg
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Inside That Coffin
Inside that coffin
It is where family wisdom comes from
Where we have been parented
Where a minority of this family rest.
INSIDE THAT COFFIN
It is where the beloved one rest
For god have sent her there
Where she thirst no more
INSIDE THAT COFFIN
A silver rest inside
Thou its inside is filled with darkness
INSIDE THAT COFFIN
I have proven
Every dark cloud, there is a silver lining.
poem by Nengovhela Murendeni
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Not Quite Perfect
Just another voice in my head
Just another day in my bed
Hiding from the world it seems
I wonder what this all means
Messed up thoughts from a damaged mind
Need more space and need more time
Curl up in a corner to cry
Messy hair and bloodshot eyes
A family not quite perfect together
But a family that loves each other
Sticking together through great and worse
Got no money in this tiny purse
Pulling through by nothing at all
Always refusing to take the fall
Crazy thoughts and fights all day
Wishing someone would take it away
So much love in this house of wonders
So much conflict, so many downers
Starting fresh with every sunrise
Watching through these aging eyes
The things they've seen, the things they've done
Wash away with the rising sun
A family not quite perfect together
But this family will always love each other.
poem by Shazza Rixx
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My Family
My family will forever be in my heart,
My sister's mean the world to me,
More than life,
All I ever wanted was a complete family,
To have a mother whom I never met,
My family will always remain who they are in my heart and soul,
My family is more important than my friends and my lover,
Family will always come first,
Family is family,
No matter what they did they'll always remain family.
poem by Jennifer Rondeau
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Why family?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE the FAMILY THAT DISREPECTS YOU?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE the FAMILY WHO TALK ABOUT YOU BEHIND YOUR BACK?
WHY DOES IT HAVE TO BE THE FAMILY WHO CLOSES THE DOOR WHEN YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO?
WHY IS IT THE FAMILY WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT YOU?
WHY IS IT THE FAMILY who tell others your buisness?
Why does the family try to put you down?
Why does the family act the way they do towards one another?
Why does the family act like they’re not your family?
Why can’t the family just be family?
poem by Latedra Ellis
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What Is Family?
A family is love
That puts itself above
Everything else in this world.
A family is trust
That's fair and just
In its treatment of each other.
A family is pride
And will never hide
Its feelings for one another.
A family is dear
And won't disappear
When things are getting tough.
A family is hope
That learns to cope
With all that comes their way.
A family is sound
With their feet on the ground
On every brand new day.
A family is kind
And will always find
The time to be together.
A family is wise
And treasures its ties
For always and forever.
poem by Edwina Reizer
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Fam
from fam to family thats how it went my moms raised me my pops cared for me my grandmother had my back when there was no one to turn to i always had them i didnt know then but now i do i love them and they love me dont underestimate the power of the family because from fam to family thats how it goes and i want the world to know
poem by David Bailey
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My family(concept of art)
My family my tree
Deep rooted in my heritage
My family my tree
Who I'm the fruit of her
My family fair sky
Where my sun always shine
My family there are my roots
Where I got MIne and me
My family is my word
My family is my blood
My family is my fine touch
My family
is big heart
Who love with no hurt
My family is my love
for that love I love
And I hate
What I hate so
My family is my moral code
MY culture
And my bank acount
Never been out of cash
My family is my fortess
And my fortune
My family is not
fall out of fishion
My family face
is always fancy
My family is what
You never know
me with out
MY color
My conscious
And my concept of art
poem by Sallam Yassin
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