The Olive

We sat at a table
My grandmother and me
The olive in the glass
Was set out to see
Green and red
On a wooden tooth pick
She told me a story
That she knew would stick
A plane hit a building
He husband was gone
I often wonder now
How she stayed so strong
My mother was the youngest
Of all her four
All of life’s worries
Knocked on her door
Her days were filled with courage and grief
I listened closely as she continued to speak
She went to court
And listened to facts
The president signed into law
The tort claims act
When I got older
I went to see
The beautiful skyscraper
She spoke of elaquently
The sky was blue
And clear that day
I pushed the elevator button
With nothing to say
I reached the deck
And there I stood
Just like someday she knew I would
I think of the olive in the glass that day
I looked up to heaven and I could hear her say
Pray child when life gets tough
His love is sufficient
And his grace is enough