Tell Us A Short Story
(theme ninety-eight: grandparents)
When Grandma comes to visit,
it's always a big thing.
The little kids, they love it,
and sometimes Mommy sings.
Grandma only comes sometimes,
the same time every year.
She laughs and plays and dances
and she's glad to be here.
The reason for the visit?
Neither child knows.
But sometimes they hear Grandma cry
about her little Primrose.
Then one day the girl says softly,
"Grandma, could you please
tell us a short story?"
The child is appeased.
Grandma says, "Well, one old day,
long before you were born,
I had a husband who loved me,
he kissed me every morn."
The little kids make faces,
but Grandma only smiles.
She says, "Times were sort of rough,
but we were happy all the while.
"I lost him to the coal mines,
the awful wretched things.
And I knew that I'd never again
hear his sweet voice sing."
"And other bad things happened,
these things that they called Games.
Everyone could get chosen to play,
if they picked your name."
Mommy clears her throat,
says, "Grandma, that's enough!"
But Grandma's eyes are blazing.
She says, "I'm talking, so tough!"
Then she smiles at the kids,
and says, "Mommy will say,
she'll tell you just what happened,
I know she will one day.
"But these Games, they were awful,
and I'm so glad to know
that my grandkids, they'll be safe from them,
that thing they called a show."
Daddy's looking sort of angry,
but Mommy calms him down.
She says, "Can I talk to you, Grandma?"
They enter the kitchen wearing frowns.
Soon, the boy overhears
Mommy and Grandma yell.
Grandma says, "You can't hide forever!
One day, you'll have to tell!"
Mommy sounds sad and tired
when she says, "I know, you're right.
But I want to wait till they're old enough
that it won't be a fright."
Grandma sighs and answers,
"I guess you do know best.
But I'd best find an end to my story,
they'll want to know the rest."
So Grandma walks back out and smiles,
and says in a happy voice,
"Mommy will finish the story one day.
I don't think she has a choice."
Three years later, when Grandma comes back,
she looks at Mom, face sad,
and she says, "It's time you told them,
but I think you knew that."
Having Grandma makes it easier,
to learn what the story was.
Then she says, "Do you understand
why your mom made all that fuss?"
When Grandma comes to visit,
it's always a big thing.
She tells them more each time,
as they listen to Mom sing.
A/N: WOOHOO! I've been needing a creative outlet. Theme 98 in my challenge, you can find it in my forums. So, in case you didn't figure it out- and looking back, I think it's possible- this is about Katniss's post-Mockingjay family. This was sort of fun, a poem not about whippings or death. I think it's a nice change of pace. Do the challenge! Review, please! Love from Mari!