molly born in surprise missouri in 1897
died in pioneer california in 1995
you look peaceful
sunken in your flowered pillow
waiting with a smile
strokes
unlike the strokes of a pen you once used
to write everyday
in your journal with
left you suspended between this world and the next
you never wanted to be a burden
but you never knew
because to you trains raced across vast prairies
grizzlies bang on cabin walls
the young man on horse back will marry you
men walked all over the moon and you didn’t care
the important thing was
the only child who didn’t crawl before she walked was
my mother
did you stay so long because we
in our selfish love
could not bare to let you go?
Mary’s Stories
These stories are derived from a taped interview with Paul Thompson.
She had eight children. The oldest, Ruth died.
Her children are Hazel, Dorothy, Helen, Ruby, Paul, Nancy and Georgielee.