A Stalwart Life

On September 13, 2015, I helped celebrate the Stalwart Life of Eliza Spalding Warren. I wrote and read a poem at the Brownsville, OR cemetery where the DAR paid tribute to commemorate her life. Here's the poem I wrote for her. It could be a poem for many of the women I've come to know in history...and in my life. Maybe even you!

Stalwart Life

Eliza Spalding Warren

By Jane Kirkpatrick

On the Occasion of the Linn Chapter DAR Commemoration of 1938 Plaque

September 13, 2015  Brownsville, OR

Stalwart child                                                  Stalwart wife

Language-linked                                             Who listened

to English, Nez Perce                                     chose and lived

Cayuse; love                                                   with strains

                                                                        clear that love

                                                                        and duty wedded

Stalwart child                                                  on the Warren Ranch

who told stories

Kept them folded                                            Stalwart mother

in her memory,                                               takes her daughters

tears spilling                                                    back to Waiilatpu,

into sorrow                                                      back to Lapwai,

softening raged edges                                    transforms history.

                                                                        She weaves stories

Stalwart daughter                                            with new endings.

holding mother-memories

warm and strong                                             Brave Eliza

sorting father's                                                letting go of sorrow

changes and demands                                     giving words to

weaving reconciliation                                    grief

into family threads.                                         Her heart so large

Stalwart sister                                                 She reminds us -

urging safety                                                   if we allow her --

cautious laughter                                             to chose a faithful

praying for a future                                         stalwart life

putting pain to rest

The other thing that happened on that day was a gathering of 200 or more who laughed and listened and celebrated her life. Afterwards we did what every pioneer gathering did...we ate! And here is a recipe requested by many for the butterscotch brownies made and served by my good friend Carol Tedder.  Enjoy!

BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES from Carol Tedder

                   Made for The Memory Weaver  launch September 13, 2015

Melt 1/4 cup butter in medium size saucepan on low heat.
Add 1 cup brown sugar and stir until blended. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Add 1 egg and stir thoroughly.

Mix 3/4 cup flour, 1 tsp. baking powder and 1/4 tsp. salt in small bowl. Add to mixture in sauce pan.
Stir well.  Add 1 tsp. vanilla and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans.

Spread in well-greased and floured square 8x8 pan.
Bake 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees. (Don't overbake!) Cut in squares while warm.

Excellent served warm with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel syrup!

(Carol says: Jane, I haven't tried using rice flour in this recipe but it probably would need a couple of tablespoons more than 3/4 cup to make it gluten-free.)