Middle brother Dave recently came upon a poem our Grandma Cassidy mailed to him in 1975. Titled “To Joan,” she’d written this verse to our mother.

Since this is World Poetry Day and Grandma’s birthday, we must share:

Not that I would ever critique someone’s handwriting (sorry, Grandma), but in case you need a bit of help …

“To Joan” Our Poet

Your words of Joy
That your message brings
Gives my heart a lift as it softly sings.

Sadness and Strife can bring much bliss
If we hold God’s hand, we cannot miss
The Wonders of His Kindness
Flowing like the Seas

You have stood the test
And bravely fought back the tears, and anger
that had come to bear.

The Fork in the road you chose to take
Even though you did hesitate
Show to the world it’s never too late
For success will find you
If you only can wait.

~ Cecelia Margaret Cassidy ~ August 31, 1975

It took me a week or so to put Grandma’s words into historical context, as a lot was going on in the mid-1970s. We lived in Indiana, so far from Mom’s New England roots. The nest was half-empty, with two children in college. The aftermath of Watergate and Vietnam, with “Women’s Lib” swirling about made for a confusing time.

But then I checked the date of the poem. It was written two weeks after Mom returned triumphantly from her first Midwest Writers Workshop, where she received high praise for her poetry.

And so Grandma was celebrating Mom’s success.

The poem was meant to further encourage her oldest child: Writing poetry was not only her past and present, but her future.

And that, my friends, is why World Poetry Day is on Grandma’s birthday. (Well, as far as I’m concerned, anyway.)

---

“To Joan” ©1975 Cecelia Margaret Cassidy. All rights reserved.

We’d be glad to send you a notice with each new story. Simply drop in your email address, below: