Tattered Hymn Book Old tattered hymn book on the piano - TopicsExpress

Tattered Hymn Book Old tattered hymn book on the piano there. Its pages yellowed and turned with care. In this book were many great hymns. I remember, along with Grandma, most of them. I used to go to Grandmas and Grandma would say, My fingers are getting stiff now. I wish youd play, (Let the Lower Lights be Burning) send a gleam across the wave. some poor restless struggling seaman, you may rescue, you may save. Soon Grandma would come in. She sat in her rocking chair her face a grin. Slowly she rocked to the beat of the keys. Soon she would say, play another please. This would be: Just a Closer Walk with Thee or I come to the Garden Alone While the Dew is Still on the Roses. Then we would go to the garden just us two. And pick a rose as a humming bird flew. Then she would mention, remember my little ones in the graveyard where they lay, for soon I will have to go away. So many years have passed as they lie there, so many years, so many cares. Place a rose at the little head stones for my babies, I lost, so along alone. That I do each year for her little ones and Grandmas grave quite near. Many years have now passed. As I decorate on the freshly mown grass. It wont be long you see. There will lie the babies, Grandma and me. I will rest quite without fear. Because, I know as always, Grandma is near. The leaves of the weeping willow hang low over the graves. Shadowing, always the stillness of that place. At the beginning of this poem I forgot to tell. After a while I would say, Grandma, why dont you play, (Let the Lower Lights be Burning), you play so well. It seemed, to me, those stiff fingers became young and at ease. As they flew over the darkened ivory keys. Later, as always, Grandma would say. Im beginning to yearn for that day. For it is appointed to us, we all must die. She closed the tattered old song book with a sigh. I am not afraid to go. And bask in that gleams glow. For Christ will be standing across the waves. Arms outstretched Struggling Seaman, Welcome, you are saved. In memory of my Grandma, Nellie Palmer Binkley Maxine Binkley Fuller 2011 In memory of my Grandma, Nellie Palmer Binkley