Verse 1 Gran was always in the kitchen, That was where she’d be, Big old Mixmaster humming, Music just for me. Canisters above the stove, Lined up in a row, Fruitcake mix in a battered bowl, Flour falling slow. Verse 2 Electric jug on a tiny shelf, Red light shining bright, Fancy things we didn’t have Back at home in sight. I was perched upon a stool, Questions rolling free, Gran kept stirring, answering, Patient as could be. Verse 3 Pop was in the lounge room, Cricket on again, Every single holiday, Same old summer men. Long thin room and afternoon, Curtains barely stirred, Bat on ball and commentary, Half of what we heard. Pre-Chorus Gran said, “Maryanne, look up there ... See that clock on high?” Chorus “If you can stay quiet till That hand goes fifteen round, I’ll show you how to play Yahtzee ... Not a single sound.” Well I’d waited nearly all day long For her to show me how, But fifteen times round that kitchen clock Felt longer than now. Verse 4 Five times round, I nearly spoke, Mouth half open wide, Gran just raised her floured hand ... I swallowed it inside. Ten times round, the house went still, Even heard Pop snore, Tick, tick, ticking filled the space Across that wooden floor. Verse 5 Twelve times round, that stubborn hand Seemed to slow its pace, Fourteen laps and Gran just sat With that knowing face. Sipping tea and watching me Fight the urge to talk, Like she’d found a quiet patch Beside the ticking clock. Final Chorus Fifteen came ... I leapt and yelled, “Done!” with all my might. Pop shot up ... “What the heck?” Thinking there’s a fight. Gran said, “Fifteen quiet minutes ... She’s done well till now.” “She’s not now,” Pop muttered, Then settled back down. Bridge “Go and get your little box,” Gran said with a grin, Red case with the white dice, Shaking hope within. Worth the wait and worth the hush, Worth the ticking shock, Worth fifteen long minutes Of that stubborn clock. Outro Fruitcake scent and summer heat Still drift through my mind, Fifteen laps of patience there Left something kind behind. Yahtzee dice in a little red box, Rattling soft and light, All because I held my tongue For fifteen rounds that night... ... Thank you, Gran.
