"nonna" poems
This woman speaks in tongues
Foreign languages roll from her mouth
Like summer fog ladled over the rim
Of Candlestick Park
In the not-so-distant
Far far away of long long ago
This woman speaks in rotund sentences
Effulgent with vocabulary
That shimmers with the electrified joy
Of lights over Ghirardelli Square
In the not-so-darkness
Of the clammy and cabalistic night
This woman speaks with her hands
Impresciable, implacable, and inconsolable
As she tries to mold untranslatable words
From air that is as thin
As the promises she’d preferred
And purchased with the shards of her heart
This woman speaks in lyrics
Arpeggios of adjectives and alliteration
That tumble acrobatically with the intricacy
And grace
Of a hummingbird in spring
On the kiss of a blossom
Rich and fragrant and giving as
This woman speaking in tongues
May 30, 2012
May 30, 2012 at 4:35 PM UTC
To Two Nonnas
@2007 Linda Barrett
We can't afford to go to Italy
So you both bring it to us
We hear in the music of your names,
each syllable coming from your mouths,
vocal chords and tongues
that dance fast Italian tarantellas
from your shared cubicle
You both should have been sisters
Born on the same month
And sailed into America
on the same ship.
You bring us Italy
through your cooking:
olive oil drenched cole slaw
made zesty with ground pepper and salt,
amaretto cookies placed on our desks
deep fried calamari rings
at the Willow Grove Bennigan's
and Italian restaurants
in a Maple Glen shopping center.
You both embrace us
with still strong Nonna arms
and crochet bright pink baby clothes
for expecting employees.
On the weekends,
you become bocce ball champs
in Montgomery County
where Italian is still spoken,
To uphold up the old country's heritage
This poem comes out
from our love to you
because just by being our friends
we want to save all our pennies
to see what Italy is really like.
Feb 4, 2012
Feb 4, 2012 at 7:38 PM UTC
Life's now fleeting moments with you
Flow through my mind like a whirl pool.
The minutes we think last forever, on a cycle which will never cease to exist, drastically come to a stop with no announcement.
The silence of your voice is infinite, bringing uncontrollable tears to my eyes. What I would do to say goodbye. One last hug, one last laugh, one last season in the garden, one last cheers of our glass. What I would do to make those moments last a life time.
To My Nonna, my Nonno - Ti voglio bene asi... asi...asi
The knowledge, wisdom, kindness and love you have given me will live on forever through me. Thank you for everything, this is only goodbye for now. Until next time.
I love you.
Sep 1, 2022
Sep 1, 2022 at 1:07 PM UTC
I'm am now over twice the age I was when we lost you
It's funny to think that the time I have had without you in my life is greater than the time I had you in it
But your love and the effect you had on me will last my whole life.
Time moves quicker than we would like, and memories become hazy
Smells, sights, photos, clothes remind us most vividly of the past
Remaining family with their stories and anecdotes from you and your life keep alive the essence of you, and remind us not to be sad that you are gone but to be happy that we all managed to meet you and have you in our lives, even if short lived.
Jan 3, 2012
Jan 3, 2012 at 4:27 PM UTC
Gathered daily along Via Longura
Over antipasto and a deck of fifty-two,
Surly men conspire with
The **** barista in Café Settimane
And the neighborhood nonna cursing from a window,
Even the resident pigeon lady
Atop her cobblestone perch,
But not with me, una ragazza Americana
On the 98th of a hundred day stay, and unprepared
For the faint buongiorno that came out of no where
Or the dealer who winked at me
I swear—And I settled in as a regular
With a smile on my lips, a grunt from Nonna,
My standard espresso waiting for me on the counter.
Feb 8, 2016
Feb 8, 2016 at 10:39 PM UTC
In my homeland I would sit and drink wine
I would look out over the coast, drink espresso in cafes, walk in mircowedges over cobblestone streets in tight brown pants and beautiful coats.
I would cook and bake and love and read and write, i would kiss my Nonna's cheek and speak with my hands.
But...
This is not my homeland and I do not drink wine
I drink beer from a keg, starbucks with pumpkin, and the coffee here is drunk sitting down.
I don't look over a coast but a concrete jungle of noise and smells that aren't fragrant or delicious
there is no kitchen for me to cook in my dorm and i wear nike shorts and bean boots and i feel this life is not a grand one
My homeland is not this place and indeed, nothing like this place and for that, i am grateful
Sep 30, 2015
Sep 30, 2015 at 5:53 PM UTC
To the man who raised me where my own father couldn’t,
Papa… where do I even begin?
I love you more than words could ever express. I will always cherish our time together- even though I will forever hate that we could not have more- and all the lessons you taught me. You were the most sincere, hard working, admirable and loving person I will ever have the fortune of knowing.
You were my protector, my knight in shining armour, my superhero, my rock, my anchor, my confidante, my defender, and my best friend. There will never be a man in my life who could ever measure up to your strength, love and kindness.
I’m sorry I’m not ready to let you go… nor do I think I ever will be. I guess part of me just thought you would be here with me forever. I really wish that were the case… but if it’s time for you to go, I guess I can settle for you being my guardian angel instead.
I also just want to thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you for always being there for me without ever questioning it or wavering.
Thank you for holding my hand and guiding me.
Thank you for wiping my tears, hugging me tightly and always knowing how to comfort and cheer me up.
Thank you for protecting me.
Thank you for always having my back and supporting me.
Thank you for all the times you soothed my anxiety attacks growing up.
Thank you for all the nights you spent up with me when I was afraid.
Thank you for your undying love and support.
I can’t ever thank you enough for everything.
I miss you so much. I wish I could talk to you once more. I wish I could tell you how much I love and miss you. I wish I could thank you and apologize. I wish I could joke around with you.
I wish I could have you sing to me- in that god awful tone-deaf singing voice of yours that always made me laugh. I’d even put up with you singing Chicken Talk.
I wish we could have had more time, but I know that no amount of time would ever have been enough. I got you for almost 25 years and I guess that will have to be enough.
I would give anything just to be able to tell you this and for you to be able to hear me and respond. I know you’d tell me not to cry and not to be sad. I know you would tell me you love me and always will. I know you’d also tell me to take care of Nonna and Callisto, Nova and the kids.
I just wish more than anything I could actually hear you saying those things.
You are my sunshine, papa…
Always, your little girl.
Jun 2, 2021
Jun 2, 2021 at 3:51 PM UTC
Delle volte mi concentro su particolari lontani e totalmente irrilevanti come la posizione delle dita delle mani appoggiate allo stipite della porta o su un bicchiere e io penso sfiorami sfiorami sfiorami.
mi ricordo casa di mia nonna, il suo parquet, la luce che enTrava dalle grandi finestre, tutta la lista di cose che mi era vietato toccare
Jul 11, 2015
Jul 11, 2015 at 9:38 PM UTC
- Donde, o vecchina, queste violette
serene come un lontanar di monti
nel puro occaso? Poi che il gelo ha strette
tutte le fonti;
il gelo brucia dalle stelle, o nonna,
ogni foglia, ogni radica, ogni zolla. -
- Tiepida, sappi, lungo la Corsonna
geme una polla.
Là noi sciacquiamo il candido bucato
nell'onda calda in mezzo a nevi e brine;
e il poggio è pieno di viole, e il prato
di pratelline. -
Ah!... ma, poeta, non ancor nel pio
tuo cuore è l'onda che discioglie il gelo?
Non è la polla, calda nell'oblio
freddo del cielo?
Ché sempre, se ti agghiaccia la sventura,
se l'odio altrui ti spoglia e ti desola,
spunta, al tepor dell'anima tua pura,
qualche viola.
1.4k
with apologies to WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
(from Henry V, spoken by King Henry)
Once more to the table, dear friends, once more;
Or close up our hungry mouths with supermarket staples.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of hunger blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Cut fine the sinews, simmer up the blood,
Disguise cheaper meats with hard-favour'd sage;
Then lend the stirring spoon a terrible aspect;
Let pry through the portage of the foccacia bread
Like the brass cannon; let the garlic o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled onion
O'erhang and jutty his confounded tomato base,
Swill'd with a wild and wasteful Cabernet Savignon.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English.
Whose ragu is fet from Nonna's fail proof recipe!
Nonna's that, like so many Stephanie Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even, baked
And brewed their sauces and stews, for lack of argument:
Dishonour not your mothers; now attest...
That those whom you call'd mothers did feed you well
Be copy now to men of larger appetites
And teach them how to eat.
And you, good yeoman,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your belt; let us swear
That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so hungry,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
Apr 3, 2016
Apr 3, 2016 at 1:30 AM UTC
Nu caro amico dice a n'ato amico:
- Pe mezza toja me songo appiccecato.
Tu vuò sapè cu cchi?
No, nun t' 'o ddico.
Statte tranquillo, l'aggio sistemato.
Afforza 'o vvuò sapè? E mo t' 'o ddico,
ma tu nun 'o cunusce, è n'imbecille.
Na vota s' 'a faceva int' a stu vico,
mo pare ca sta 'e casa a Via dei Mille.
Ch'ha ditto? Niente... L'aggio sistemato.
Mo nun s'azzarda cchiù a fà 'o fetente.
Ha ditto ca tu si nu disgraziato;
ma nun 'o dà importanza, è n'ommo 'e niente.
E ch'ato ha ditto? 'E solde nun se fanno
onestamente senza n'espediente,
si 'a ggente parla, ride, è pecché sanno
comme te l'he accattata 'a milleciento...
Che ssaccio, ca mugliereta ch'ha fatto,
ca tu te stive zitto, ire cuntento,
ca te 'mparaste pure a ffà 'o distratto
e doppo t'accattaste appartamento.
Sentenno sti parole, tu mme saje,
'o sango a parte a capa m'è sagliuto:
Che faccio? Accido a chisto... 'o passo 'o guaio...
Sentenno 'e di ca si pure curnuto,
nun ce aggio visto cchiù: l'aggio 'nchiantato
senza le dà nemmanco 'a bonasera.
Sta lezione se l'ha mmeretata,
'nfaccia a sti ccose io songo assaje severo!
Aprite ll'uocchie si n'amico vuosto
ve vene a raccuntà ca v'ha difeso
'a quacche malalengua: è stu cagliostro
ca isso stesso ve vò fà l'offesa.
E quante nce ne stanno 'e chiste amice
ca songo "cari amici"... e nun è overo.
Guardatele int' 'a ll'uocchie... sò felice
quanno fanno vedè ca sò sincere.
'A nonna mia, vicchiarella e saggia,
diceva sempe: - Nce sta 'o ditto antico:
Chi 'mmasciata te porta, vance adagio,
ca 'ngiuria te vò fà... e nun è amico. -
1k
A place of love and laughter,
Of smells of food,
And tummies full,
With delicious pasta meals,
Memories that feel so distant,
I really wish I was back in Nonna's kitchen.
Feb 25, 2020
Feb 25, 2020 at 4:30 AM UTC
Children are lucky because they have
A Grandma and a Grandmama
Nonna, Mhamó, Abuela, Bibi
Babcia, Giagiá, Avó, Oma
Nagymama, Mormor, or Kuku wahine
Are names of love for their Nan
O baachan, Babushka, Tutu, Halmeoni
Are certainly not names for a man
Ouma, Savta, Bubbi, Geema
Nai Nai, Nona, Gramms and more
Bomma, Mawmaw, Yaya, Nana
If I keep going you’ll think I’m a bore
All names for their Grandma
The one they adore
That special someone
Who’s love to the core
She plays with them, cuddles, and keeps them all warm
She feeds them, she rears them takes over the chore
But all of this just to say, lest we forget
Grandmas are LOVE LOVE LOVE and more
Oct 29, 2018
Oct 29, 2018 at 5:17 PM UTC
It was a time for me to love and face my fate
A time to forgive but not to hate
A time to believe in myself and all that i desire
In a time where i think of what i want in life and as i discover who i truly am and yet to be
My great grandmother will always be apart of me
I am her legacy living and growing as i am
A girl with different ability and hopes and dreams
I wonder what my nonna would say to me
Her blood ruins through my veins
As i look in the mirror i wish i could see her face
There's so many questions i have and undying love for someone i hardly know
As you watch me from the sky, my heart is and my mind are always thinking of you and wondering what to do
missing you from far away and wishing to be with you and wishing i could remember you as a young infant , wishing i could of known you more ,
a part of me is you ,i am your legacy that still lives ,inside of me and through these eyes , the same eyes as you , one part of me and one part of you
Mar 20, 2021
Mar 20, 2021 at 2:37 AM UTC
All these spectacles and still you made a spectacle of yourself.
All these binoculars and still, she wasn't the only one you saw.
All these calendars and you still didn't have time to come out and visit.
All these clocks and you still couldn't give her the time of day.
All these hair straighteners and still you couldn't straighten yourself out.
All these hearts and you still couldn't give her yours.
All these obstacles and still you couldn't get over them.
All these calculators and you still can't figure your problems out.
All these directions and you still can't find your way back home.
All these weights and still you couldn't pick your life up.
All these cleaning supplies and you still couldn't clean up your act.
All this soap and your attitude still stank.
All these gates and still you won't make it to heaven.
All these condoms and you still ****** up.
All these vows and you still went against your word.
All these games and yet you still played her the most.
All these pencils and yet you still wrote us off.
All these exchange rates and yet you still couldn't come through in September 2006 or August 2014.
All this money and you still won't contribute to my future.
All these birthday cards and still you couldn't wish me.
All these funeral and get well soon cards and still you couldn't say goodbye to Nonna.
All these apples but still, we weren't the apple of your eye.
All these sunglasses and still you were too blind to see what you lost.
Jul 30, 2018
Jul 30, 2018 at 10:38 AM UTC