My mother’s mother was a poet. I like to think I inherited my poet’s ear from her. We called her Nano. She was precious. She taught Sunday school for years and years—up into old age. When my sisters and I visited Nano we would attend her class on Sunday morning. My clearest memory is of flannel board lessons. I loved listening to her tell the Bible stories as she placed the colorful setting and characters on the flannel board. She touched many lives with her gentle, loving spirit.
Today I bring you one of her poems. It’s perfect for Mother’s Day.
Jama Rattigan is hosting Poetry Friday today at Jama’s Alphabet Soup. Her post is a beautiful and touching.
Penny Parker Klostermann 
I came back over today to read all your comments again! Thanks so much! I have another one of my grandmother’s that I should share at Christmas. She was a wonderful poet.
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How lovely! And I can just say I was doing some math and your scheduled for a book baby in not-that-much over a year. It will be here before you know it. (Make sure you get lots of sleep now…you know how newborn baby books are)
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Your grandmother is a great poet!
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“This wee bit of heaven
that tugs at your heart”
– how precious, Penny. Thank you for sharing this with us. Lovely memories.
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Ah, flannel board stories — good memories!
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So sweet, Penny–reminded me of that wonderful time in my life, each time I was a mother-to-be. Now I’m making flannel board stories for my granddaughter! Happy Mother’s Day!
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Thank you all for reading Nano’s poem and for your comments. I hope you all have a wonderful Mother’s Day 🙂
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Penny, This was precious. I just got home from a Mother’s Day treat with my daughters and Mom at the Paramount. When I turned on my computer, there was your Nano’s poem…beautifully written and heartfelt. So were your sweet words of your memories of her and flannel board Bible stories. I enjoy technology but there was magic in those pictures that would stick to the flannel board. Thanks for a treasured walk down Memory Lane.
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Love this post – the story behind it and the lovely poem to the mother-to-be. Your Nano’s depth and warmth come out in her poem. I love its elegant language.
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This is lovely, Penny. I have a colleague who is a mother-to-be, & will share it with her. I imagine you did receive those poetic ‘genes’! I called one of my grandmothers “Nano” too-love hearing that you did.
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What a loving poem and a special gift that she handed down to you, Penny. 🙂
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Bet she would be very proud that you are making good use of the gift. If the ear fits…ahh, no! Haha. Have a lovely Mother’s Day, Penny!
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I love your Nano’s poem. How wonderful to be reminded of that precious time just before becoming a mother as Mother’s Day approaches.
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Lovely poem. Your Nano was talented.
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Beautiful poem, Penny! Happy Mother’s Day! 🙂
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Lovely. Thanks for sharing this with us. Happy Mother’s Day.
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That’s a beautiful poem, Penny. Not to mention her meter was spot on! I’d expect no less of any grandmother of Penny’s. 🙂
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Thanks so much for sharing this poem, Penny! Literary talent definitely runs in your family.
I also loved flannel board stories — I like imagining you and your sisters listening to your grandmother’s stories on Sunday mornings.
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How wonderful to have these treasures (the poem and the talent!) from your grandmother. Thanks for sharing them.
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That’s a beautiful poem, Penny. Happy Mother’s Day!
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Penny–thank you so much for sharing this lovely, heart-felt poem and your memories. Thank you also for reminding me of felt-board stories. I absolutely loved them when I was a kid. I’d hate to think they’ve been replaced by screens. They were so tactile and the fact that they stuck was magic!
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How beautiful, Penny, and how wonderful that you have these written treasures from your grandmother. The apple didn’t fall far, did it? 🙂
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Penny – this is indeed a beautiful poem. What an absolute gift to share with us – And that you inherited from her 🙂
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Your grandmother’s poem exemplifies an elegant use of language. BTW, flannel board stories in Sunday were one of my favorites, too.
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