take one pint of water
add a half-pound of sugar
the juice of eight lemons
the zest of half lemon
pour the water from one jug
then into the other several times
strain through a clean napkin
grandmother
the alchemist
you spun gold out of this hard life
conjured beauty from the things left behind
found healing where it did not live
discovered the antidote in your own kitchen
broke the curse with your own two hands
you passed these instructions down to your daughter
who then passed it down
to her daughter
“I had my ups and downs,
but I always find the inner strength to pull myself up,
I was served lemons, but I made lemonade”
my grandma said
“nothing real can be threatened.”
true love brought salvation back into me
with every tear came redemption
and my torturer
became my remedy
so we’re gonna heal
we’re gonna start again
you’ve brought the orchestra
synchronized swimmers
you’re the magician
pull me back together again the way you cut me in half
make the woman in doubt disappear
pull the sorrow from between my legs like silk
knot after knot after knot
the audience applauds
but we can’t hear them
-how i’ve missed you my love