Sonnet 20 - Nannie

Mary Eleanor bore two strong sons out
of wedlock in 40’s West Virginia.
“Nannie” to me, I never heard her shout
or bemoan the hard road she’d purchased. A

lady for ages - so was my grand mom
to me. She taught me to walk on the street
side, open the door, to offer an arm
to any woman, whether small or great.

It may just have been that none was there to
do those things for her, but she felt them right
and proper. I was Nannie’s boy, would do
anything to please her. When I turned eight,

we moved out of her house. My own son would
help with your coat, would feel it right he should.