Class For Katie Latimore November 7,1900 To February 2,2010 Poem by Glenis Redmond

The bitter: she’s gone
The sweet: she lasted so long
Grandma schooled us
with her old school lessons;
so old they became new again
She walked this world with knowing
People talking 'bout going green,
Grandma came green.
Her ways and actions so tall
you’d think she invented the color.
Her children and her children’s children
rising from the soil she tended.

Her life not measured
in man-made increments
But by the hands of God
Blessed to see 109 cycles,
a matriarch who saw wars
and rumors of war
never picked up a weapon.
Killed hate with kindness
Till it didn’t come 'round no more.
Just took to her King James,
never lost the spirit
testifying of Jesus
free-styling the gospel
we did not always know the words
but her versions carried a healing balm

Who can be mad at a woman?
Who stayed at the table so long?
To feed us fruit from her faithful hands.
Didn’t she talk to you?
Didn't her heart always
know your name?
For someone who did not go to school
She schooled us. With…

hush yo mouth chile
Listen and wait on the Lord.
Go to the well when thirsty
and take to your knees when
the world has done you wrong,
flower in any season.
Out grow struggle.
The hardy last the blessed do too.
Do not mistake meek for weak.
Go with the countenance of fire.

You were that woman
at the center of our hearths.
Your head covered in a kerchief
You were that woman
with a homemade fishing rod
casting a line figuring out how to
multiply and feed the multitudes
You feed our hearts
with your story we will spend
our lives, telling yours
not just your North Star journey
but how we watched you like a kaleidoscope
bemused amused and on our toes
How you believed in three things:
Jesus, Ricky Steamboat and 'As The World Turns'
Or was it Guiding Light?
You were our earth spinning
Our Watchtower
with blue light
Who never got it twisted
Where your blessing comes from

You, a Canna Lily
a tall flower, among tall flowers
a working bloom.
You sure schooled us.
You out classed the world.
At your feet we throw jewels
Now you are in God’s arms catching praise,
at the gleaming gate hearing, “Come on in
Thy Good and Faithful Servant, job well done'.