Ursula

Woven through my tapestry, there’s a shining golden thread
In the fabric of my history, a woman stands out in my head
Before lying to her final rest, brushed on her lips her favorite red
Her life, a memory to hold; her life, a story waiting to be told

Born in the winter of 1910
To Angelina and Antonio, in the city’s Italian end
Falling fifth in line of their ten children
They called her Ursula, but in years to come she’d be known to me as Grandma and as friend

They say it was hard then to make ends meet
She was working as a young teen at the Alkay Factory
Spent years behind the foot-press making fancy jewelry
Sometimes life’s not kind; she could always find, love in her close-knit family

Oh, Ursula, here’s to your life that I sing
All the grace of a lady, silent strength of the wind
The foundation of the rock on which your family would climb
Know your scarlet smile lives on…. Through time

Ursula found freedom on the dance parlor floor
Kickin’ up the Charleston while the crowd yelled for more
Little did she know my Grandpa watched her from the door
Soon they danced all night, they would dance for life
Together, forever they would soar

Grandpa took a piece of Grandma’s heart when he died
The doctors, they said it was broken inside
Let go or stand to fight, only Grandma could decide
She searched until; she had found the will
Said, “There’s still a lot to live for in my life”

Oh, Ursula, here’s to your life that I sing
All the grace of a lady, silent strength of the wind
The foundation of the rock on which your family would climb
Know your scarlet smile lives on…. Through time

Truth as it goes, all good things must end
At eighty-six years Grandma danced her last step
She brushed on her lips her favorite shade of red
On that autumn night, without a fight, laid her weary soul across the bed

Oh, Ursula, here’s to your life that I sing
All the grace of a lady, silent strength of the wind
The foundation of the rock on which your family would climb
Know your scarlet smile lives on….
The love in your smile lives on and on …through Mine