GIRL ON 9 ACRES
Wisconsin Blizzard
- Beki
19 below freezing
Wind howls and scratches
Snow pounds and drifts
Darkness hides
the mass of white powder
that lies in waves against the house
the fence
the barn
the tractor
the shed
6 in the morning
Light sparkles and dances
Snow looms and dazzles
Children squeal
and charge through the door
To joyfully create soft
snow men
snow tunnels
snow angels
snow forts
My grandmothers’ home is
surrounded by
a paradise of white
but inside
the old wood stove crackles
and oatmeal bubbles.
She hums and she flows
soft as snow
warm as a sweater
These are my sepia memories
of a Wisconsin blizzard,
Wisconsin home.
Siblings
- Corleen
Two days before her 3rd birthday, a delighted Beki became big sister to Paul Johnson Jr, better known as PJ. We were at Wisconsin Campmeeting when I began labor and a nervous daddy soon had me in the car. As we approached the freeway, a policeman pulled us over because a headlight was out. When dad told him I was in labor he said, “Follow me!”
We had not followed him long before he pulled over and instructed us to get into his car. Speeding down the freeway in the back seat of a police car I prayed, “Lord, please don’t let this be false labor!”
By the time we raced through the outskirts of Madison, I knew this was the real thing! Another Madison City police car met us at the freeway exit and down the streets of Madison we sped, sirens blaring and lights flashing. We reached the hospital and I was rolled straight to the delivery room. Less than an hour later, PJ was born!
Of course I had to write a song welcoming the new member of our family!
- Corleen
We have a son and his name is Paul,
A curly towhead and sweet little smile,
Blue eyes that sparkle, mischief all over,
That is our sweet little PJ boy.
His cars and trucks and toys are all over
Scattered around him up in his room.
Take them apart to see how they run, oh,
That is our sweet little PJ boy.
Here’s what he says when tucked into bed,
“I want my soft blanket, I need a drink and
Please take me potty, I want another
Kiss and a love, that’s our PJ boy.
Oh, who can compare to with our PJ boy.
​
PJ Boy
As our Jolly Wampers grew, sibling rivalry also grew strong in “mother” Beki’s blood! Since I had written a song for PJ, she felt she deserved one, too. So, to the same rollicking tune, I wrote another song, this time for Beki.
- Corleen
We have a daughter, her name is Beki,
She has long hair and she likes long dresses
Ribbons and bows and curls in her hair,
And sandals to wear in the summertime.
She likes to talk and talkity-talk,
And she likes to sing, la, la, la, la, la, la
She likes to play “dress up” like a queen
And climb up the trees in the summertime
Dimples so sweet with each pretty smile
From our little tomboy lady veiled as a tomboy.
Ripples of laughter, shrieks of alarm
All sprinkle our skies in the summertime.
Oh, who can compare to our Beki Doll
​
In the Summertime
Adoption
- Beki
When I was 6 years old, my dad - Paul Johnson - legally adopted me. He waited until I was old enough to remember the experience and give my consent to the judge.
"Yes judge, I want to be a Johnson."
Crop of Stones
- Beki
In grandpa’s barn
the sweet smell of steaming milk,
fresh hay and crunchy grain
fills my senses.
Dairy cows toss and chew
then snuffle up what is left.
I listen to their soft lowing
and run fingers along a warm hide.
Squeaky stanchions and
the click and whir of a milking machine
provide background music
to all my questions;
“Dad, tell me again how many stomachs
a cow has?”
“If I can find one of the kittens in the hay loft
can I keep it?”
In fields behind grandpa’s barn
rocky outcrops of fieldstone,
surrounded by whispering poplars,
pile high against the back fence.
Every year these fields yield
A good crop of stones for picking.
This is Wisconsin,
After all.
Johnson Lane is a fine
rust colored drive of red granite,
leading to the grey farm house
where grandma lives forever
I am quite sure,
rocking and humming on the porch swing
under the white and purple lilac bushes
that smell like spring.
Queen Pester
- Beki
There she goes
making rules and
setting the stage
for adventures;
tadpole saving
fort building
cat stalking
story spinning.
Without doubt
or hesitation
it’s quite clear
how the story plays
When big sister
is in charge
I wonder
at this blazing
this confident child
self proclaimed Queen of Everything
Where is she now?