My husband's grandmother, her family born and bred in England, was deaf. At least when I met her for the first time. I'm not sure actually when she became deaf in her life, but she only read lips by the time I married her grandson.
She was very active throughout the time she lived. VERY active. She lived to be 103!!
Last night, while laying in bed in the dark, a poem came to my mind. Now it's just a poem you say---but, not for us in our family! This woman, my hubby's granny could recite this poem. Word for word! At her age. Never missing a beat! It all astounded us. I was just in awe!
Let's see, if my math is correct, I met her in 1968. She was born in 1890...so that would make her around 78 when the two of us first met. Okay, the woman was amazing! The most impressive, she walked miles a day...shopped, lived by herself in a home, took care of it, cleaned, read a great deal...and sewed!! She loved to make the sock monkeys for children!! (I have two of 'em still today...that she made both her great grandchildren). But okay, you get the idea how amazing she was. I've gone astray a bit....the poem. Yep, she could recite it, word for word!!! Not a reading recital, from memory.
And still today, I can't even begin to remember the words---but oh what memories of watching and listening to this aged woman in her prime when she would do her recital!!!
Slowly England's sun was setting oe'r the hilltops far away,
Filling all the land with beauty at the close of one sad day;
And its last rays kissed the forehead of a man and maiden fair,--
He with steps so slow and weary; she with sunny, floating hair;
He with bowed head, sad and thoughtful, she, with lips all cold and white,
Struggling to keep back the murmur, "Curfew must not ring to-night!"
"Sexton," Bessie's white lips faltered, pointing to the prison old,
With its walls tall and gloomy, moss-grown walls dark, damp and cold,--
"I've a lover in the prison, doomed this very night to die
At the ringing of the curfew, and no earthly help is nigh.
Cromwell will not come till sunset;" and her lips grew strangely white,
As she spoke in husky whispers, "Curfew must not ring to-night!"
"Bessie," calmly spoke the sexton (every word pierced her young heart
Like a gleaming death-winged arrow, like a deadly poisoned dart),
"Long, long years I've rung the curfew from that gloomy, shadowed tower;
Every evening, just at sunset, it has tolled the twilight hour.
I have done my duty ever, tried to do it just and right:
Now I'm old, I will not miss it. Curfew bell must ring to-night!"
Wild her eyes and pale her features, stern and white her thoughtful brow,
As within her secret bosom, Bessie made a solemn vow.
She had listened while the judges read, without a tear or sigh,
"At the ringing of the curfew, Basil Underwood must "die.
And her breath came fast and faster, and her eyes grew large and bright;
One low murmur, faintly spoken. "Curfew must not ring to-night!"
She with quick step bounded forward, sprang within the old church-door,
Left the old man coming slowly, paths he'd trod so oft before.
Not one moment paused the maiden, But with eye and cheek aglow,
Staggered up the gloomy tower, Where the bell swung to and fro;
As she climbed the slimy ladder, On which fell no ray of light,
Upward still, her pale lips saying, "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"
She has reached the topmost ladder, o'er her hangs the great dark bell;
Awful is the gloom beneath her, like the pathway down to hell.
See! the ponderous tongue is swinging; 'tis the hour of curfew now,
And the sight has chilled her bosom, stopped her breath, and paled her brow.
Shall she let it ring? No, never! Her eyes flash with sudden light,
As she springs, and grasps it firmly: "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"
Out she swung,-- far out. The city Seemed a speck of light below,--
There twixt heaven and earth suspended, As the bell swung to and fro.
And the sexton at the bell-rope, old and deaf, heard not the bell,
Sadly thought that twilight curfew rang young Basil's funeral knell.
"Still the maiden, clinging firmly, quivering lip and fair face white,
Stilled her frightened heart's wild throbbing: "Curfew shall not ring tonight!"
It was o'er, the bell ceased swaying; and the maiden stepped once more
Firmly on the damp old ladder, where, for hundred years before,
Human foot had not been planted. The brave deed that she had done
Should be told long ages after. As the rays of setting sun
Light the sky with golden beauty, aged sires, with heads of white,
Tell the children why the curfew did not ring that one sad night.
O'er the distant hills comes Cromwell. Bessie sees him; and her brow,
Lately white with sickening horror, has no anxious traces now.
At his feet she tells her story, shows her hands, all bruised and torn;
And her sweet young face, still hagggard, with the anguish it had worn,
Touched his heart with sudden pity, lit his eyes with misty light.
"Go! your lover lives," said Cromwell. "Curfew shall not ring to-night!"
Wide they flung the massive portals, led the prisoner forth to die,
All his bright young life before him. Neath the darkening English sky,
Bessie came, with flying footsteps, eyes aglow with lovelight sweet;
Kneeling on the turf beside him, laid his pardon at his feet.
In his brave, strong arms he clasped her, kissed the face upturned and white,
Whispered, "Darling, you have saved me, curfew will not ring to-night."
~<>~<>~
Granny * Granny * Lazy Daisy * TJ * Gattina * Gattina * Melli * Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess * Pamela * MaR * * Carole Burant * Janet * *
14 Comments:
Oh my God!! This is the exact same poem my Grandmother Hoke read to me many years ago when I was little. My mom was born in 1912, the youngest of five, so Grandma had to be in her thirties then at least. Right after the Civil War perhaps?
We went to the farm every Sunday for dinner and every time I begged for that poem and to play the piano.
I haven't heard it since.
Curfew shall not ring tonight. I was reading it with tears in my eyes. My beloved Grandma who taught me piano from an old church hymnbook. I adored her.
Thank you, thank you. (And thanks for the comment and pointing me this direction).
I'm going to link to this for my blog (in the small world category).
I had tears in my eyes as I was typing this. I couldn't get the poem out of my head last night...kept me awake, and as soon as I said to myself, tomorrow I'll get that poem on my blog---I slept soundly!!!
I just went googling. Don't know why I didn't think of it before when I've talked about that poem to friends.
You might be interested in this if you don't already know about her.
Quite a lady. I always assumed the poet was English but she was American and also wrote a poem called Remember the Alamo.
Yes!! I do know of Rosa Thorpe. Funny thing was...back decades ago, with no thought or inkling of computer, I had to go to the library and do a day's research to find the poem. Funny, huh?
Lovely post and picture. Wow, I'm impressed that she could recite this poem. My mom is remarkable in her own way. Come see!
Thanks for the invite....that was so touching and a glorious write up of great memories shared.
This reminded me so much of my Hubby's dear grandmother that lived to the age of 87...she had much the same habits, very independant...I think that generation of people were taught to memorize as their learning...what a treasure that she could do it...I have a blog friend that I would love to hear read this aloud!
Thanks for sharing it today!!
:-D
Isn't that something? I hope to live to a 'ripe old age' myself, but I just don't see it happening. Good thing we can't see into the future. Yes, I think the same as you---back when schooling was LEARNING, children were taught more of the fundamental skills such as memory. Oh believe me, when you hear this aloud, it brings a feeling that is undescribable!!!
Wonderful ! And she could say that all by heart ? I don't even remember a short one ! But my grandma was also a wonderful woman and about the same age she was born in 1896. She brought me up from baby age until I was 4, when my parents realized that they had a daughter. She gave me everything good I have in me now and also the foundation of my character. Until her 85 year she lived of her own and then suddenly decided that this were enough, she put all her furniture on the street to get rid of it, (my cousin just saved some decoration stuff)bought new once and moved in a residence for old people and told me that now she started a new life. There immediately she took over all paperwork and bookkeeping for he old people as she said (they all were much younger than she was) settled fights about disappearing false teeth and others and always kept Babycham (little bottles of Chapagne) in her fridge which she drank every evening while watching TV. She walked so fast that my husband couldn't follow her. He immediately felt in love with her. He met her first in 1969 ! She died at 95 sitting in her armchair, watching TV and the nurse the next morning found her like if she were asleep. Isn't that wonderful ? For me she was and is the greatest woman I ever met.
What a wonderful memory for you also Gattina!! Personally, I think (and find myself a lot of times, wishing) back then family was a very strong foundation. So sadly, unlike today when both parents have to be out working -- kids just don't have the familia background of strength like they did years ago. Sounds like your hubby was the same as I was -- meeting such a skillful, determined relative to look up to and admire!!
Sorry, I lived with her until age 7 not 4 !!
That is a LOT of poem to recite - at ANY age! WOW! It must have been very special to her. What is the name of this poem Wys? Who's it by? I have never heard it before... it's beautiful!
I'm afraid my memory today is quite of a different nature.... *sigh*
The Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight -- By Rosa(some have Rose) Thorpe. Yep, we'd set around the table, and listen to the poem...with tears of awe. The way she recited it, with such feeling and pride---it was like it was Granny in the poem!!!
Great post!! What a poem and to think that your grandmother had it memorized!! WOW!! I had to memorize in high school but to do it today!! That is so hard for me!! Thanks for this nice post!! I really did appreciate it!! I love Monday Memories the best. Mine is up but so different. Sandy
Loved your post today Sandy!!!
Wonderful tribute to your hubby's Granny! She must have been an amazing woman. Reading lips and being deaf and yet she lovingly memorized such an incredible intricate poem. It is so beautiful! I truly enjoyed your post, thanks.
You asked me to remind you about Our Son~Our Marine...Kevin. :)
*sniffling* ---tears of pride here!! You shared your feelings so succinctly that it was like me back when!! Oh the Gulf War seems like centuries ago. It truly ages us parents when our kids are overseas in the military during bad times!!
How wonderful that she could recite the whole poem by heart!!! very impressive and very nice post.
OMG! She could remember that whole thing? Amazing at her age. I'd be lucky to remember just 2 verses. :-P
That is so great!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hi Wystfull...thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment:-) I love "meeting" new people!! Yes, I do make all those chocolates...lol. I've been making them every Christmas time for the last 25 years so they're just part of my Christmas preparations:-) You were asking me about the little snowman that I posed beside the bag of jelly beans...I actually got him last year at a little Country Craft Shop that was closing down. The bag of jelly beans came separate, I just filled up that bag:-) Your hubby's grandma was quite an amazing woman..and to think she could still say this poem at her age is brilliant!!!
I'm so glad you stopped by my blog because I found yours. What a poem!! I'm sure I would have trouble remembering this and I'm not nearly that old! What a memory she must have had. And how nice that you have all those wonderful memories of her.
I will definitely make a return visit.
I really admire people like that, I've known one 103,5 years old woman that was strong like that, what a honor to know her!!!!!
Amazing women....
Post a Comment
<< Home