At the Foot of My Grandmother's Bed
by Hadley Volner
At the foot of my grandmother’s bed
A silk bench stood alone
Its legs nearly crumbled
Under the weight of death’s exhale
Propped on its silk pillow
A large, pristine, gloss-glassed picture faced the dresser
The golden frame traced with a fresh wreath of carnations
The outline of her husband smiled through the glass
I used to curl up at the foot of my grandmother’s bed
But the cushion was crammed with his frame
He remained out of sight, a wishful footnote
She could not bear his glazed features next to hers
Though she spoke as if he were lying next to her
"His deserted pillow gathered dust / Only blown away by her yearning sighs / As his frame now occupied my pillow / I took my place at his"
His deserted pillow gathered dust
Only blown away by her yearning sighs
As his frame now occupied my pillow
I took my place at his
As she whispered her weekly troubles
The window’s glint illuminated my nods
But though I slept beside her
Only her words filled the sheets
My ears caved
Heavy with stories of distant friends and a distant God
She felt each second of silence bring down a crashing pressure
For a moment her words brought back his presence
I don’t sleep at the foot of my grandmother’s bed
I lie next to her as she contorts my features
I have a white comb-over and milky cataracts
And when she holds me
I’m him
About the Writer...
Hadley Kasia Volner is a freshman at The Willow School in New Orleans, LA, enrolled in the Certificate of Artistry Program. A multi-sport athlete, Hadley ranked in state for the one-mile run in spring 2023, and has been involved in the competitive soccer club, The New Orleans Jesters, for seven years.
About the Artist...
Olivia Henry is a Visual Artist in 11th grade majoring in Photography. While she does like painting as well, photography peaked her interest as she likes to experiment with new mediums. She tends to make pieces involving everyday life, trying to create a sense of living in the moment.