Notes About The Poem

4 March 2024

A tribute to my grandma who took care of me since I was 20  days old. She was laid to rest on Dec. 28, 1994,  few months before my graduation in college.

For Silent One's , "Mamma Poetry Contest"

 

 

 

A Garden Mom

A myriad of enchanting flowers 
at grandma's grandiose garden
that bloomed like perennial wildflowers
used to fascinate a multitude of people
who entered the porch 
of  our century-old ancestral abode.

A kid at seven I wondered
when i heard her every morning
whilst sprinkling them with rice water;
She spoke to each  plant in nicknames
like her own children~
Chrysanthemum she called, Chrissy
her ravishing rose as Rossy
her dazzling dahlia as Dolly
her bushy bougainvillae as Bougy~
They smiled and danced during roll call;
And when the evening came,
in magical moonlit milieu 
like children at play I heard them
singing sublime symphonies 
only for me and for grandma.

My grandma was a great mom~
not only to her children
not only to me
but to all the flowers naive and wild
beguilingly blossoming in her gracious garish garden.

Alas, the garden is gone~
and so my grandma~
I hear the old porch
calling me~
"Come back, my beloved child!".
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Allison Avatar
December 10, 2024 at 11:47 PM
I have a huge lump in my throat, I dearly wish I had had a grandma, I feel i missed out so much when I was growing up, this is a wonderful tribute and you always have those precious memories. hugs jan xx
Dietrich Avatar
July 3, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Reviewing this one again. I see it was a fave for me.
Elliott Avatar
April 10, 2024 at 4:51 PM
A most beauteous tribute to your beloved grandmother. She sounds like she was quite a loving and special woman. Memories, especially good ones, stay in our hearts. Also, thank you for my 1st place panel finish in the "Spring Sonata" contest. God's blessings to you. ~
Ray Choudhury Avatar
March 26, 2024 at 5:32 PM
Belated Congratulations on your win, Dear JCB. I grew up with my grandma in the same house, and most probably i Inherited a love of reading from my maternal grandmother. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time with both of them. Your poem is a beautiful tribute!
Brul Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 3:49 AM
Thank you dear Mala...I am glad this poem resonates with you.
Daniel Avatar
March 24, 2024 at 10:20 PM
A beautiful tribute to your grandma, JCB, I like the imagery you use here:)
Brul Avatar
March 28, 2024 at 3:49 AM
Thank you dear Joanna. Blessings.
Goldsmith Avatar
March 11, 2024 at 10:08 AM
Congratulations on your win. A wonderful/powerful/lovely Mother's Day write/tribute about your grandmother. I never had a grandmother. One was gone before I was born. The other one was gone when I was young. Flowers love when we talk to them... Have a blessed day writing away.............
Brul Avatar
March 18, 2024 at 9:02 PM
Thank you dear Paula. Yes, flowers hear us.
One Avatar
March 10, 2024 at 8:59 AM
A heartfelt and beautiful tribute to your grandma... You have described it with so much beautiful imagery.. I have a poem similar called my mothers garden.. It is Mother's Day here in the UK, so I thought it would be nice to feature mum related poems.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest..
Brul Avatar
March 18, 2024 at 9:01 PM
Thank you SO for sponsoring such great contest as a tribute to moms. Thank ypu also for the generous placement you gave to all of us.
Empress Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 4:23 AM
Dear JCB, this is beautiful, so creatively written and delivered. Im sure silent one as he is a gardener would love this, and i just love how youv written “ She spoke to each plant in nicknames like her own children~“ awwn that made my soul warm, how you remember those little details. They say plants do hear us, and they respond when we speak to them.” My grandma was a great mom~ not only to her children not only to me but to all the flowers naive and wild” Bless! So is my grandma. fave! BOL
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:07 AM
Oh, dear Ink Empress I am greatly overwhelmed by your lovely and sweet feedback, and for the FAVE, I am grateful. Thank you so much. Blessings.
Kauffman Avatar
March 6, 2024 at 11:12 AM
Dear JCB! Your poem with its delicious garden images is as beautiful as the picture of your grandmother and her garden. It is the soul of graciousness bathed in the deep wells of her love for you - a wonderful metaphor for you as part of the garden she tended and deeply loved. My grandmother taught me to love gardening. She cared for me from the time I was born. She died many years ago. I still miss her but she lives in my garden - especially in my daphne bushes. Blessings dear friend!
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Thank you Sam, I see we both were reared by our grandmothers. They live in our hearts in perpetuity.
Ashley Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 6:44 PM
Dear Jcb, the poignant and soulful beauty of your poem captures the loving essence of your grandma with rich imagery adorning your heartfelt verse. A deep reaching poem that dives straight into my heart to fill it with appreciation for the wonderful grandma that raised you, her children and a glorious garden of flowers. I loved your last line.. so very moving! Warmest wishes my sweet poetry friend.. ~Susan
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:05 AM
Thank you dear Susan, I am glad this simple tribute to my grandma dives straight into your heart. You inspired me.
Dietrich Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 1:17 PM
this is just wonderful. I love the originality of this one for Mother's Day contest. A FAVE
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:04 AM
Thank you dear Andrea...and for the fave, I am honoured. You made me smile. :)
Pandit Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 7:31 AM
Wonderfully reminiscing in heartfelt memories, Jcb. Your poem speaks eloquently of your grandmother--in a graceful, grateful voice. Awesome!
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:02 AM
Thanks Vijay for your lovely feedback. Blessings.
Sands Avatar
March 5, 2024 at 7:20 AM
This is so nice. Very special, as she sounds so special too. ! I love the ending too. :)
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:01 AM
Thank you Heidi for your heartwarming feedback.
George Avatar
March 4, 2024 at 3:21 AM
I understand that you were so much attached to your grandma. It is a fortune for one to have such a caring grandma in the house, who besides her household chores was interested in gardening too. My mother had a beautiful garden and her interest in gardening is handed over to all her four daughters. A lovely tribute dear Jez. So nice to know your grandma called flowers by their names in a pampering way.
Brul Avatar
March 7, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Thank you dear friend. My grandma said that speaking to the plants make them proliferate and thrive longer.
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