Dreams of Nanna by Genna East

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   Jodahposted 6 weeks ago

   Please take some time to read this touchingly beautiful poem that Genna wrote in remembrance of her Great Grandmother.
   
   https://hubpages.com/literature/dreams- … emembrance

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      Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you, John, for posting this kind and thoughtful thread.  Nanna grew up in a life of privilege, but it was like living in a gilded cage.  What the women of her day, in that world, could and could not do is disconcerting. They were stifled in ways that the women of our day take for granted as freedoms with rights we are born with.  Have a good weekend. :-)

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         Jodahposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         My pleasure, Genna.

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      bravewarriorposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thanks for sharing, John and giving us the chance to comment on Genna's lovingly penned poem.
      
      Genna, you've inherited your Great Grandmother's talent. I'm sure she's proud and pleased that you have brought to life the legacy she wanted to create but was denied. There could be no better tribute than to bring to life that which would not have seen the light of day if not for her surviving family members. You've done her and yourself proud!

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         Jodahposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         I couldn’t agree more, Shawna. Thank you for reading.

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         Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         Thanks so much for reading the poem, Shauna, and for your kind and generous comment.  I tried to write the poem in the tone of tenor of that era and reflected her beauty of spirit.  The inspiration she gave me in life is a gift I will always treasure.

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   Venkatachari Mposted 6 weeks ago

   That is a beautiful poem, Genna. I enjoyed reading it. I admire your nanna's skills and dreams. 
   For me, my father was a great storyteller, who used to tell us amazing stories from epics in our childhood.
   
   Thanks, John, for posting the link.

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      Jodahposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you for reading this, Venkat.

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      Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Venka, for reading the poem.  You were so fortunate in sharing your father’s stories.  Nanna’s stories were mesmerizing in her choice of words and the flow of her stories -- right off the top of her head. She would have been an amazing writer.  I looked forward to hearing them, and she looked forward to telling them.  I think, looking back, this was her opportunity to express something, creatively, what she was not allowed to do from her days as a young girl, and that stayed with her, moving forward.

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   ChitrangadaSharanposted 6 weeks ago

   Hello Genna,
   Such a lovely way to remember your great grandmother. I enjoyed reading the poem.
   Grandparents in those times were wonderful story tellers. Besides binding the family together, those stories also had moral values, so important for the growing up children.
   Thank you for sharing.
   Thank you John.

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      Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you for reading the poem and for the lovely comment, Chitrangada.  Nanna was a very charitable woman who also had a keen sense of humor.  She once said, “Never do something in life you wouldn’t want people to read about on the front page of a newspaper.”

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         ChitrangadaSharanposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

         +++

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   Venkatachari Mposted 6 weeks ago

   I agree with Shauna's wonderful remark, Genna. You acquired the talents of your Nanna.
   
   We are blessed to be able to enjoy those beautiful inspiring tales from our grandparents.

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      Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Venka.  If I acquired only a little of her talents, I would be very blessed.

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   Peggy Wposted 6 weeks ago

   Hi Genna,  Your great-grandmother would be so proud of you!  You have created a beautiful poem honoring her and her time spent in that era.  I also cherish the stories I heard when growing up from my grandparents.  My mother was also a great storyteller.  Thanks, John, for sharing Genna's article.

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      Genna Eastposted 6 weeks agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Peggy, for reading the poem and for your thoughtful comment.  How fortunate we are to have great grandparents and grandparents who share such memories with us, and so beautifully.  :-)

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         Lora Hollingsposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

         I just loved your poem, Genna. I thought it was extraordinary. Such a tribute to your great grandmother who would be so proud of you and take such joy in knowing how she inspired your love of writing with her wonderful stories! With insight and artfulness, your poem speaks of an era where women were not free to follow their interests and fulfill their potential due to the social norms of their day.
         Now we have women running for the highest political offices. I’m so glad that times have changed for the better in this regard!
         Thank you, John, for sharing.

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            Genna Eastposted 5 weeks agoin reply to this

            Thank you, Lora.  I am so pleased you enjoyed the poem.  Writing poetry such as this gives me the opportunity to write in rhyming verse, which I have always enjoyed.  It’s like writing to music, and her stories were sometimes melodic when she described certain aspects of her world.  It’s hard to explain.  I, too, am very happy we are not living in the gilded cage that limited the women in the society of her day...in more ways than we can imagine, or ever accept.

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