One day, while reading my grandmother's poems, I became touched as I felt the yearnings of her heart as she conveyed her feelings about the special events in her life, and also the struggles of raising a family, politics, economic depressions, love, war, marriage, beauty, and everyday living. I could feel of her spirit, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I was starting to know a grandmother I never met. She passed away when my father was only six years of age.

Since reading these poems, I felt compelled to transcribe what I could find and share them with my extended family so you could have an opportunity to be touched as I when reading these poems.

I would like to see if we can use this as a starting point and hope that any of you who have any more material, or background as to what inspired some of these poems, we can include these in a future edition and eventually include this in a "Family Album" with history, pictures and profiles of all the family members to be published and updated periodically. I also have some plays that she wrote that I did not have time to include, but hope to, included in a future edition.

Special thanks go to my wonderful wife, Jan, who put up with me as I did a little at a time for the past two years, and for her advice, patients, and help. I would also like to thank Jim and Mona Palmer who gave helpful advice, suggestions, encouragement and who contributed funds to help offset costs.

For those that are curious, all this was typed on my Apple MacIntosh computer which has a word processor that allows me to change font styles with the click of a button. I felt that utilizing this feature would add "style" and hopefully make it more exciting to the reader. The original is printed on an Apple LazerWriter® printer. Also, special thanks go out to my friend, Mark Moritz, for allowing me to print this out on the Apple LazerWriter® at his place of employment.

Please call or send me your comments, suggestions, or additions.

I take no credit for the compilation of this poetry collection and wish to extend my thanks to David Canova, my first cousin, for the efforts that went into the compiling, transcription and long hours that went into preparing this book. As David expressed in the First Edition, I have always felt a closeness and kinship to our grandmother through reading her poetry and writing. My efforts in reformatting this work are simply selfish and were only due to the fact that I had the equipment on hand at the moment. I sincerely want generations ahead to be able to consume this food to the soul and feel the spirit of Mary Emily as they peruse the passions of her heart.

NOTE: The third edition, formatted for html/internet usage, is done with excitement for stepping into a new age and taking the love and history of the older ages and those who have passed on with us, for if we know where we come from it is easier to know where we are heading.