Poem
“The Smile”

The Cookie Jar
for Nana

On the counter, near the old back door,
Sat a jar full of joy and treats we’d adore.
A glass little treasure, tall and clear,
That whispered, “Nana’s love is near.” She kept it full, come rain or shine,
With oatmeal, sugar, and chocolate divine.
No visit went by without something sweet—
A cookie, a hug, or a warm-hearted seat. I lived just upstairs, not far at all,
Just one quick dash down the creaky hall.
She shaped my world with hands so strong,
And a love that carried me all along. Beautiful and bold, with her head held high,
Like a sunbeam strolling across the sky.
Folding, sweeping, sewing with grace—
Never a moment out of place. She pressed our hair and hemmed our clothes,
Baked cobbler with peaches in perfect rows.
The crust was golden, the filling grand—
The best you’d find in all “The Land”! But sass was her spice—sharp and bright,
She’d speak her truth and still hold you tight.
She’d smile with mischief, joke with flair,
Her strength and love were always there. Some days we’d tiptoe through the door,
Not for hugs—just cookies galore.
We’d crack it open, quick and sly,
Hoping Nana wouldn’t see us sneak by. But Nana was smart (they always are),
She hung a chime that you could hear from afar.
Ding-a-ling! went the gentle bell—
“You can’t just grab a treat—
Love comes first before something sweet.”
So we’d earn our joy in her favorite seat. We’d sit and chat or watch Lifetime shows,
Snuggled in close as the evening rose.
Though life was hard, she never waned—
Sass and strength in her soul remained. Now I smile when I bake or I pray,
And dream of her kitchen—not far away.
Where cobbler is warm and spades are played,
And Nana’s love will never fade.