Musings

A dual role reversal When did this happen That my parents became The ones to worry about, The ones to protect, The ones to shield From bad news - A health concern, Financial problems, Things breaking down All around me... And when did this happen That my children became my teachers Teaching me new words, New modes of behaviour, New music, New authors, New methods of communication, A new world... I foolishly thought That i could remain Playing parts I had learned to understand well The daughter and the mother. And now it seems That these roles have reversed.

Jasmine --------------- The pain hits me like a thunderbolt And shatters my heart Into a million pieces All over again... When I spot an empty plastic bottle on the roadside, I remember her unfettered joy when she bites into it with a satisfying crunch Making dosas in the morning, she is an invisible presence at my feet Opening the door into the house, her tail thumps against the wall On a cold winter night her warm body is stretched out against mine With every crinkle of a biscuit packet, her warm honey eyes look up at me 7:30am, and she is at my side waiting for her walk Sweets, ice-cream, cake batter, Morning pujas, neighborhood dogs, The doorbell, puddles on the road, Empty sofas, car journeys, Her old toys, birthdays... So this is grief. It strikes me hard when I least expect it As if to remind me that it is a constant companion (At least for a while, so they say) When my world is somewhat whole, When I have, for a little while, Forgotten her warm,...

 *Sharada Amma* I knew this feisty lady  With a crop of silver hair Merry twinkling eyes had she Left laughter in the air Oh what a life she lived Her stories are legend A true fighter she was Right until the very end All of life’s vicissitudes  She powered her way through Standing tall, Though in stature small, She lived a life so true Alone she was for many years Doing what she willed Strong of spirit, knew her mind A joyous life she lived Travel to places near and far To her a lot of joy did bring On the road, in her car,  Is what made her heart sing A love for reading she did have Countless books did she devour An interest in politics was another Newspapers, end to end she did scour Her personality so clever and bright She brought onto the silver screen  The stars also were enamoured Such a character they had never seen Generous to a fault was she Ever ready to lend a hand But live she did by her own rules And what a life she had! Everyone will miss her deep...