Pshaw! Poem by Rhona McFerran

"Pshaw! " My grandmother said
as she thumped and bumped about
her crowded kitchen
steam rising, having
heated conversation with herself

Rankled by my grandfather's
latest excuse for not helping
around the house

Thwack!She smacked
the meat down on the counter
pounding and whacking
dinner into submission
Beyond exasperation
stewing, livid

"Pshaw! " She said again
louder this time, making me jump
sounding like the air-brake
on my Grandfather's big truck
letting off pressure

Little and fiery
fierce and feisty
my Grandfather had no idea
what he was up against
the volatile, volcanic fury
of a woman thwarted

"Land's Sakes, Willard! "
was his final warning
but he let it go past that-
to the point of
"Pshaw! "