The Little Man
by Linda Baie
The small wooden carving of a man with a green hat stood at my grandfather’s right hand as he wrote his business notes each day. I was allowed to pick him up and stare into his face only occasionally. My father was killed in World War II, so my mother and I lived with her parents from the time I was two. Grandfather, my Pop, became like a father. He told me stories every night, read to me and taught me names of trees and flowers. We watched the stars on summer evenings.
I wanted that little carved man. I coveted him as a young child, and could not understand why, if Pop really loved me, that he wouldn’t give me the carving.
As I grew up, I discovered that that little man was all that was left of my grandfather’s father’s things. I began to understand why he stayed at Pop’s desk. I began to see outside myself to perceive others’ relationships and others’ needs.
I also realized that Pop regarded the little man as a talisman from his past. Most of the family belongings had been left behind when they moved to Missouri to start a new life. I appreciated this sad circumstance, but I still wished to own him long into my adulthood.
When I remember how much I wished to own the carving, I suspect it was to keep a connection with my grandfather that I realized would end soon, one I did not want to end. I have him now, received after my grandfather died. He sits in a corner of a shelf in my living room; I dust him when needed, and blow a kiss to my grandfather who, among other wise words for living well, taught me patience is a virtue.
AUTHOR’S PHOTO CAPTION: The little man has been with me since 1973 when my grandfather died. As I wrote, the carving was something my grandfather brought with him as a young man when his family traveled from Virginia to farm a new piece of land in mid-Missouri. I imagine someone in Virginia carved him, but don’t know who, and I guess he is a street accordionist. He has a green hat and the faintest of a yellow jacket, and his name, Lem, at the bottom.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Finding a way to hold onto my past means keeping some objects that belong to beloved people in my life. When this prompt asked for a piece about a “prized possession,”I knew that one of my most loved is a “little man” from a dear grandfather whom I believe was a great man. Owning something he loved keeps him near although he died nearly fifty years ago.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Linda Baie recently retired after 25 years teaching gifted students, finally as a literacy coach at an independent school in Denver, Colorado. She writes for her blog TeacherDance that includes poetry, essays, and book reviews.
Congrats on the publication. I love this memory and tribute to your grandfather. What a treasure. It has provided me a prompt for future writing. I have some treasured items for my grandmother.
Thank you, Jone. I hope that you’ll write and share with us some day! I love hearing about different objects that are special to others.
Congratulations, Linda.
Thanks Carol, It was a joy to write and remember!
Lem is charming. I love the connections and remembrances in your piece–well done, Linda!
Thank you very much, Buffy. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Linda, I really enjoyed three haiku and this personal story about a beloved possession. I love how you learned patience and to appreciate another person’s desires and needs while coveting this talisman. I, too, am surrounded by artifacts, mostly of my mother, but also my maternal grandparents. It is difficult to let them go; so far I haven’t. I was delighted to see the picture of you with your little man. I can imagine how enchanted you were by this figure as a child. Some things can be so magical when we are young. I feel I got to know you “deeply” through this piece of writing. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading both posts, Barbara, and for sharing a part of your life, too. I imagine we could have some good visits together, don’t you? The artifacts are in a lot of places, and my children also took some dear to them when I moved. I guess I’m keeping others for the grandchildren! As for the moon haiku, I seem to be obsessed with the moon, write about it and collect others’ poems too. Special.
I, too, love the moon. In fact, one of my haiku was recently accepted to be published in a forthcoming calendar. Here it is:
Summer moon
Silver blue light
Enchantment
Yes, indeed. We do have a lot in common! A visit would be nice. Maybe we can do a virtual visit somehow. You live in Louisiana don’t you?
Love the poem, and congrats to you, Barbara. But I have to laugh, I am far from Louisiana, live in Denver, Colorado! Thanks for sharing!
Love the little man, and I love your continued love for your Grandfather, Linda. Great job on your prose poem.