Poems from My Mother

By Minnie J Zerby

Minnie grew up in the depression years in Alabama. She rode a school
bus to and from school, helped with farming, and spent time with her
sisters and brothers fishing and hunting. It was the main source of food
as well as the crops they grew.
She was a good mother who loved her sons and will always be
remembered.
By Thomas E Tidwell surviving son.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781479770274

Minnie J Zerby

Minnie grew up in the depression years in Alabama. She rode a school bus to and from school, helped with farming, and spent time with her sisters and brothers fishing and hunting. It was the main source of food as well as the crops they grew. She was a good mother who loved her sons and will always be remembered. By Thomas E Tidwell surviving son.

Book preview

Copyright © 2013 by Minnie J Zerby.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4797-7026-7

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4797-7027-4

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Contents

Who Walked These Paths

No More

Shadowy Joy

Jumper

Mama’s Snuff

Bullet And Skunk

Snakes Under Bed

Rattlers in Storm Pit

Christmas Tree

Tin Wash Tub Bath

Pea Shed

Sis and Bee Sting

Flour Sack Bloomers

Pretty Dish

U Z Z ’ s

You’re Eighteen Today

Dem Kwazy Kwazy Kawotts"

Beauty the Cow

The Old Spring

Oil Burning Lamps

Pot Bellied Stove

Mama’s Hickory Switch

Hard Work

We Had It All

Cornbread Meals

Patched Shoes

Tater Eyes

Gathering Hickory Nuts

Devil’s Black Hole

Tornado Angels

A Child’s Delight

Ouch

Fruit Cellar

Woman & Her Peach Tree

Thumper

Orange Flecker

Perfect Zekey

First Memory of Daddy

Peanut Stack

Wood Floors

Pine Needle Hill

It’s Dark Out There

Fodder

Quilts & Things

Scooter My Lad

Special People

My Energetic Little Biker

Dearest Son

"Bops Dops Fops Kops

Nops Sops Wops"

Lick That Calf Over

Lillian

My Daddy

K.D’s Dead Mountain Beaver

Angels Now

I Was Asleep

Cherry Tree Dance

Sipper Holler

Figures & Letters

Windy & Colored Leaves

Ole Mr. Wind

Wind Caused Dances

Hello Moon

See Them Later

Questions Converse With Dad

Dizzy Darling

Where There is No

Tightly Closed Door

He Never

Fought And Lost

Death Only Cure

Kanolli and Shaboo

Icy Lace

Candy Canes of Ice

Heard, I Saw, I Felt

Kookie K.D.

Little Miss Sunshine Bright

Soft Touch Girl

Flowers

Maybe

Small Birds

Snow Birds

Boys and Snow

He’s My Son

Mr. and Hrs. Crow

Smart Crow

Baby Gray Squirrel

Little Pearl

Sis Ole Girl

Spring Cleaning Holes

What Outhouse Sees

Pokey Valley

Swayback Holler

River’s Messages

Your Choice

Bullet & the Broom

Lion & Chopping Bloc

Buzzard’s Watch Tower

Snow Birds

Squirrel & 2 Peanuts

My Mama

1999 Christmas Ham

Pokey Valley

Mother’s Dream

Mama’s King

Little Pig, Big Horse

What’s It?

Grandma Jane’s Younguns

Chickencoop Cleaners

A Sailor’s Thoughts

Boys

Oh Mother! How I Remember

Howdy Mr. Majestic River

Fluffy

Sassy

Mooner Squirrels

Kitten Angels

Snowy

10 Foot Long Table

Chinaberry Tree

Front Porch Swingers

Flying Ginny

First Day Of School

Tree House—No Girls

Laid Back Zeke

The Ensign

What Ego’s & Hate Can Do

Foota-Cuff Rabbits

Dippsey Doodle Bobbers

Sarah & Knot Hole

Paul

Brother Jackie

Gutter Cleaning Squirrel

Squirrel Tail Umbrella

CornBins"

Sarah & My Wheatcrackers

Pine Cone Hunters

Mama’s Pies

Love

Love

Yes My Son-Love Is

Buzzard Roost Motel’ S Residents

Buzzard’s Meal Time

Coal Pick Up on R-R

Ginger The Horse

Big Brother, I’ll Be There

My Dear Precious Sister

Cow Pie Boogy

Who Walked These Paths

(before me)

"Was it some troubled young person,

so ladened with heartaches & pain?

Loneliness ripping thru their SOUL.

Tears pouring like flooding rains~

"Tiredness seepihg into all muscles,

draining every ounce strength & hope.

Wearing out mighty WILL,that once,

could stand up,fight troubles,cope~

"Feet so tired,hard to lift them up,

then plops back down a heav:y thud.

Efforts to walk,taking it’s toll,

splashing up water and sticky muds~

"Did they make it to path’s end?

And find a new life waiting there.

Or did life deal them the samething.

More disappointments and dispair?

"OR was it some happy cheerful one?

Not a worry or care to their name.

Their strength,hopes,dreams intact.

Assured tomarrow would bring same~’

"Did they walk with feet so light,

they feather touched the ground?

Their whole being full of ecstasy,

dreamlike state,they made no sound~

"Did THEY make it to path’s end?

What was there for them to greet?

Were they still happy and pleased,

that they had no "CHALLENGE to MEET?

No More

LONELINESS—ripped at your very SOUL

tearing it to shreds, letting LIFE seep out.

"HUNGER—wanting desparately to hear

those magic words I LOVE YOU, hug to go

with them & so glad you’re o.k.

"COLD—get out of, knock on home’s door

& see open arms of WELCOME, bite of food"

warm bed to rest on for while.

BEGGING—not to be neglected PLEASE see

me,know that I AM THERE.

"WALKING ALONE—your very best FRIEND~

stood by,was always there. Still you

walked last years of LIFE alone",Your so

called friends could’nt be found when

you needed THEM. You did learn TRUE VALUE

of ONE did walk with you.

"FEELING UNLOVED—Cause you thought no one

was listening to you. I WAS.

"FEELING UNWANTED—only time you felt

wanted was when you were being cut up!

goof off. No one saw REAL YOU, but I did. I

wanted you to live a wonderful LIFE. What

you really wanted from THE ONE,you could’nt

have.

"BROKEN HEART—when only TRUE FRIEND you

had spoke harsh destructive words to you

and did not mean them,you DIED at that

moment.

"MIND—could’nt focus on anything any more.

With HEART deceased, MY MIND went also.

REST NOW—MY PRECIOUS ONE where you’ll

never experience these things NO MORE~

Shadowy Joy

Ihave a quiet little shadow.

Only weighs five-half pounds.

It can make itself known too.

Making grunty content sounds~

"Jealous to share any my time,

Yipper when I’m on telephone,

or trying to sew a dress hem.

It does not like to be alone~

"Round,around the house we go,

I try do all my daily chores.

Always close beside my heels.

Often gets hit,opening doors~

"Patiently waiting me to quit,

Sit down in big chair & wait.

Only took a few seconds till,

up it jumps,does’nt hesitate~

"Scratches as it turns around,

That I’ve often wondered why.

And curls up into tired ball.

Relaxing,heaves out big sigh

"Thinks she owns that old car,

is ready when I grab my keys.

Sits mid lap for better view.

Comical dogy,all things sees~

"This SHADOWY JOY’s small dog.

Smart as any tiny dog can be

Am so happy and thankful too.

That it came to live with me~

Jumper

"My little black and white ruler,

is the cute QUEEN of this house.

Has her lowly servants on alert.

At reigning,need quiet as mouse~

"And she’s tummy laughs to watch,

as she does her tricks and begs.

She don’t have much hair either.

Even has 4 tooth picks for legs~

"When there’s turkey,hams,roasts,

In oven,old man’s slowly baking.

We crack up with hearty giggles,

Almost talk sounds she’s making~

"Quickly learns never fail trick,

have a bite,she must say please.

Gently scratches with right leg.

That does’nt work,she’ll sneeze~

"Then loves to hide her biscuits,

A few,in favorite secret places.

Very often in menfolks bedrooms.

Also Ned’s old army boots laces~

"Then snuggles up for shorty nap,

Hopes her biscuits are’nt found.

Her snoring,the radio,my sewing,

are the only loud noises around

"When all the menfolks come home.

Smile at expression on her face.

She’s overjoyed to see them,but

still worries bout hiding place

"Gets mean look those black eyes.

her gaze goes from one to other.

Looks at me as if to say,please.

help. What else can I do Mother?

"Off to their bedrooms she darts.

And digs one broken biscuit out.

Looks at men with a toothy grin.

I know what she i s thinking bout

"You menfolk look little hungry.

You won’t get my biscuits,there.

Hide them under Mother’s pillow.

Don’t like the way de-men stare.

"Don’t you men go bothering them.

I’m warning you three so beware.

Growled,showed her sharp points.

Men backed off,they didint dare.

"She pauses before going outside

if raining or snow is on ground.

Daily routine that must be done,

she goes on with whinning sound.

"She lightly puts a foot in snow,

Then jerks right back out quick.

Shorty pause,she moves on again,

Each foot taking a turn to kick.

"Never loved an animal this much,

Till got this crafty little one.

You see,she’s 5 pound CHIHUAHUA.

And