Grandma smelled of cinnamon.
She had a great shelf of a bosom just right for the cuddling of grandchildren.
Her skin imbued with the scent of Christmas,
she would ice cookies the way old world masters spatula’d oils on canvas.
Steeped in this invisible cloud of fragrance,
she would whisper me to sleep with stories of a childhood in Ottawa or Ireland,
a million years
a million miles away.
With her camel humps bound in an iron brassiere of modesty,
she inspired me, the newest magi,
to bring cinnamon to the kitchen crèche,
where my mother baked trays of baby Jesuses as pigs in blankets.
Author’s note: I concocted this poem from my memories of my grandmother who came to stay for the holidays when I was young.
The scent of Christmas
by Rebecca Clifford, Caledonia
Grandma smelled of cinnamon.
She had a great shelf of a bosom just right for the cuddling of grandchildren.
Her skin imbued with the scent of Christmas,
she would ice cookies the way old world masters spatula’d oils on canvas.
Steeped in this invisible cloud of fragrance,
she would whisper me to sleep with stories of a childhood in Ottawa or Ireland,
a million years
a million miles away.
With her camel humps bound in an iron brassiere of modesty,
she inspired me, the newest magi,
to bring cinnamon to the kitchen crèche,
where my mother baked trays of baby Jesuses as pigs in blankets.
Author’s note: I concocted this poem from my memories of my grandmother who came to stay for the holidays when I was young.
The official communications channel of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara.
Keep on reading
Time For Spaciousness
Bishop Susan’s Lenten Book for 2026: Rooted in Love
St. George’s Anglican Church: Preserving a Living Landmark
Planning with Purpose: Getting Your Legacy Program Off on the Right Foot in 2026
Viewing 2026 Through a Different Lens
Play Without Ceasing: CYFM leaders gather for a day of joy, rest, and renewal