grandma’s lessons

before i shot up like a weed

still smaller than my grandmother

i sat at her feet 

she opens her mouth and mothballs fall out

                               she teaches

old leather hands clutch a rosary

calling me "tootsie"

like her favorite candies on her old coffee table

a wink and a laugh

                              she teaches

through her thick south jersey accent she knows everything

grandma teaches what herbs heal 

grandma teachese what stones hurt

hands me my first lucky coin between chocolate chip cookies

                            she teaches

love yourself tootsie, no one else will

a good woman kisses and leaves

don't let any man tell you you're nothing

every experience is a lesson, learn from it

                            she teaches

                            and i learn