Grandma's Coat Poem by Jim Yerman

It's old and a little tattered…the coat her grandma wore.
It doesn't fit her all that good…it's not in style anymore

It's always by our front door…on the rack…just hanging there
She puts it on every now and then when she feels a chill is in the air.

I used to bring home new ones…I don't do that anymore…
because she prefers to wear that old coat…the one her grandma wore.

Her grandma raised her after her parents died
It was in her grandma's care she grew
She was too young to remember…
Grandma is the only mom she ever knew.

When she was sad or lonely or things weren't going right
She would sit upon her grandma's lap and grandma's arms would hug her tight.

Through all the ills of growing up…through all the heartaches and thunderstorms
It was there in her grandma's arms where she felt safe and warm.

When her Grandma passed away she left her this old coat
and there, on the inside pocket, she left a little note.

‘How many times over the years have I hugged you'…it read
‘I'll never know the exact amount
because when it comes to hugging you
I long ago lost count.'

‘We all must die eventually for that is the circle of life.
This means I won't be there to hug you
In times of happiness or strife.'

Which is why I'm leaving you my old coat…it's the only one I've ever worn
It's the one I was wearing when I first held you…the day that you were born.

Put it on when you are happy, when you're excited or feeling blue
Put it on and know right then…I am hugging you.

Perhaps that's why when she wears it…she also wears a smile…
and why that old coat her grandma wore…will never go out of style.