"It's a Nice Little Story"

Story Poems from Streamside Assisted Living - Nampa, Idaho

Here is another selection of poems/stories, written this time by the residents of Streamside Assisted Living in Nampa, Idaho. As described in the last post, I take the methods originated by Timeslips, using photos, pictures and engaging questions to awaken the imagination. But really these are just jumping off points, and the people I work with are more than ready to start creating, imagining, telling stories, and coming up with some of the best poetic lines I have heard!

It’s a Nice Little Story

3/7/2024

I was impressed with it.

I thought it was kind of neat looking.

I’ll get close to Arkansas and then I’ll have to buy another home,

And I don’t need another one.

There’s a dog and the chicken, grown-ups.

They’re getting ready for a dance.

I didn’t feel like I had the time to dance.

My mother got sick and my sister got sick,

And they had to put her in the hospital.

The doctor says she’s not as bad as she looks,

So please don’t worry about her.

Do you have other relatives?

Oh yes, a bunch.

We got our wood and built a fire in the fireplace.

My mom and dad went to lots of farms,

Everything was great until the bottom fell out.

So we just kept at it, our hard-headed ways.

Remembrances to Everyone

3/7/2024

They’re in the back yard, just happy and larky, washing that car.

They like to play games, and doctors like to talk.

They’re not really doing anything.

They met during work,

They were in the U.S.

They had been in the service in San Diego,

That’s when all that bombing started.

They were going to do it together.

They didn’t know what they were going to get into.

They were very fortunate they didn’t have too much of a problem.

That’s the way we lived, and that’s the way we wanted to live.

The Seven Fifteen Stewed

3/21/2024

Pretty baby, what has changed?

There’s just things they’ve been checking over.

They’re withdrawn into their own family.

They found them down in the dirt farm yesterday morning.

She was more well versed that the rest of them.

It’s a long time ago turning the spinning wheel.

It’s only been about 5 or 6 years on the spinning wheel.

Pretty sharp.

And, it’s amazing how little things will slip your memory.

Oh, is it?

How Come He Got That Thing?

4/11/2024

Fun! He’s supposed to look that good.

Well, it looks like it was pretty close to town.

I think it had to be something like that.

They’re going to put it on the door and everybody’s going to be happy.

Gotta put some sunshine in there.

It’s close to the door, there’s a shadow.

When I said sunshine there’s more to that word.

There’s a reflection. Black shadows.

As far as people, I don’t see any.

Put him in your pocket.

I like squirrels.

Wonder what’s in that can?

It’s a chipmunk.

As long as he doesn’t bite I don’t care.

When I get home I’m going to use the lamp and see what I can see.

In 1988 I went to visit my grandmother’s.

They spent time trying to get those squirrels and spirits to calm.

They were tied up like knots.

When my dad got home he said that just can’t happen.

Well, what are we going to plan for tomorrow?

We’ll have to leave the garage door open at night and let them go.

Once we got them kinda trained, it calmed down and it was alright.