my Mama, she came
from far away sands,
a different climate
leaving behind her gardenia bush
that bloomed the day she left,
blooming itself out
in her absence
she left behind her gardenia’s
to wrap arms tight around me,
tight mama hugs
to sit at my table,
hear my tales face to face
instead of ear to ear
and eat new recipes
from an old family book
to clean up together
after the Normandy pie
and wiping the counters clean
while unpacking her travel, she unfolded
out of tin-foil and damp paper towel
a treasure for me
a gardenia
from mama
Beautiful.
I remember gardenias from your grandmother’s house–huge plants that thrived there. The tradition continues. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Gardenias are my favorite flower.
)
Happy Mother’s Day!
Wrong face LOL
That was powerful! My mom had her mom’s roses – which I managed to get before we sold her property. They now bloom beautifully here and I am reminded of longevity of life and roses. Passing on beauty and history.