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The sun smiled joyously upon

Her aged face, a masterpiece of shadows and

Burnt sienna, the slightest coffee tint

To her straight smile, she winked and set out

A plate of cookies, oatmeal raisin, and she

Was the only one I knew

Who knew how to make them just right

Her pale eyes kind, as she pulled back a chair

Began the elderly ritual of

Sitting down, I had seen those eyes turn to steel

Before, in eighty-nine when

DCF came calling, told her

They were taking us away, that same pleasant face

Went hawkish, eyes narrowed enough to burn right through

That young woman, who stood impishly before her

In her power suit

And I heard the gravel in her voice, barely audible over

The cacophony from the chicken coop, where she picked up her eggs

Each morning

"You won't take a one of 'em lady. Now you git yoreself on outta here."

Ancient history now though, as the sun finally summoned the strength

To shine full on through the kitchen window

And she set down a tall glass of milk, next to the fresh-baked cookies

Smiled and took my hand, said, "How've ya been? Ya hardly call anymore,

And I been wonderin' if ya ain't slipped off the face o' the earth."

I smiled back, twisted a cookie between my fingers

"I've been right here Grandma, never left."