Lily Letters of Jasmine

  Dear grandma, 
       you were my litchi  s u n r i s e, 
  encasing stars in honeydews of  h e a l i n g, 
     as  d a w n s  used to wake up 
     from deep  s l u m b e r  with 
  the silken humming of your jasmine  p r a y e r s. 

Your almond eyes
have always 
armoured our
rhymeless roots, 
with humble rays 
of light and 
gentle shimmers 
of philosophical 
fountains, 
that calmed 
every lake
sterling with
fire and ice. 
I evermore 
reminisce those 
twinkling dusks 
with sanguine stories 
of Hansel and Gretel,
narrated by your 
angelic notes, 
but, what if Gretel 
had lost her 
way within 
cobwebs of 
enchanted
cocktail woods?
Along shorelines
of Snow white
and Rose Red,
perhaps, truths
of ephemeral life,
remained unheard. 

Like a timeless tree,
you've withstood
every thunderstorm,
as we sought shelter
in your oak-embrace, 
then, why are 
those aging skies
becoming an 
embroidery of 
fleeting memories
and erasing that 
golden aura
of divinity from the
hibiscus temple, 
homed in your essence? 

I still remember
when you held 
my tiny hands
in your warmth, 
and helped me 
trace those 
pencilled butterflies
hiding behind
lily-letters of mischief, 
twisting like 
tickling riddles. 
Oh, how your 
heart would melt 
like the butterscotch moon, 
in swirling streams
of my silly giggles. 

Remember,
when you knitted 
a soft sweater
crocheted with a
patchwork of teddy bears 
for this wintry toddler? 
I still wrap it 
around my 
aching heartbeats
like a milky shawl, 
midst cashmere snow. 

But, mum has now 
lost her doll house
of dreams, 
can you please
freeze time and 
scold these 
decades for 
stealing away 
our hopes and 
innocence? 
I promise to
hold my tears 
in an inkless saga
of metaphors, 
until you've
caressed us 
with the 
same adoration, 
from a million 
comets ago. 

You were the only
grand anchor 
of golden guardian
for me, 
like a glorious
godmother 
shielding her 
newborn fairy -
then why did
your eyes forsake to 
search for my presence? 

Evergreen warmth 
of your soul 
shall forever breathe 
in grandeur ~
for, our sights 
can never imagine 
to live in the absence, 
of your wisdom-realms. 

Even though
you don't recall 
my existence
and maybe, 
have become
unfamiliar 
of my name;
every year, 
I will wish
for stardusts 
to glaze your
horizons that 
have ruffled 
in wrinkles of 
fainted nostalgia, 
for, I will forever sleep 
on the custard-
cushions of your 
cherishing love.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2024

Poem

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Ashley Avatar
December 27, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Dear Hiya, I'm delighted to return to re-read this amazing poetic offering and to offer my heartfelt congratulations for your success in Ink's contest. A richly textured piece filled with endearing sensory imageries and tactile emotions I can feel. Warmest wishes, soulful poetess.. ~Susan
Empress Avatar
December 25, 2024 at 6:53 AM
I remember this poem, and this one really did hit me and made me cry and i am so pleased to see you post this again for a contest of mine! Thank you! For always supporting my contests and iv said everything i feel about this poem below! Sending you light always. Congratulations on your top placement in my contest. This surely is a poem from your heart
M  Avatar
January 25, 2024 at 11:03 AM
Any grandma would be honoured to have such a loving, sweet and talented granddaughter like you! Your grandma must have been so so proud of you sweet girl and loved you so very much! You were both blessed! Beautiful poem to a special grandma! Debx
Ashley Avatar
January 22, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Dear Hiya, soulful poetess, I am enthralled with the depth and breadth of emotion conveyed with your golden pen. Your artistic touch with striking imageries and creative metaphors breathe vibrant life into your beauty-filled verse. This is such a poignant and exquisite tribute to your maternal grandma. Your bond of love is rich and deep. Congratulations for your excellent win in Brian's contest. Warmest wishes sweet friend.. ~Susan
Empress Avatar
January 22, 2024 at 7:22 AM
Congratulations on your win in brians contest dear sweet hiya! Well done and this deserves all the accolades
Poet Avatar
January 22, 2024 at 6:40 AM
Back with hearty congratulations on your contest podium win, Hiya.
Kendrick Avatar
January 22, 2024 at 4:35 AM
Congratulations on your winning work in Brian's contest. Way to go. Sara K
Goldsmith Avatar
January 19, 2024 at 12:38 PM
A beautiful write for your grandma. Great memories are the best kind to have. Love this one... Have a blessed day writing away.....................
Buhagiar Avatar
January 19, 2024 at 2:26 AM
Your diction is superb. So is your imagery. You are a great poet.
Poet Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 10:53 AM
So beautiful poem dear Hiya, about the deep bond between you and your grandmother, who is depicted as a source of love, wisdom, and comfort. Your word choice is rich and evocative, using vivid imagery and sensory language to convey emotions and memories. The poem employs literary devices such as metaphor (comparing the grandmother to a "litchi sunrise" and a "hibiscus temple"), and personification (describing the skies as "aging" and "embroidery of fleeting memories"). A fave.
Sands Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 7:35 AM
This is beautifully written. So well expressed! Excellent poem for her :)
Pandit Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 6:53 AM
What an awesome heartfelt tribute, Hiya! Wonderfully dwelling in memories that tug the heart:-I still remember when you held my tiny hands--Remember, when you knitted a soft sweater crocheted with a patchwork of teddy bears -- your emotive, love filled, recall brings to fore your beloved past with your grandma. Excellent, as always!
Lamoureux Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 5:47 AM
Such a gorgeous piece. I like the insertion of nursery Rhymes to add drama and texture to the narrative. A wonderful relational write.
Swan Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 2:33 AM
blessings in your remembrances of days past
Vipond  Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 10:18 PM
Oh dearest Hiya.. age can be a cruel thief, yet cling on to those beloved memories, because it is there, in the eternity of present moments captured in the net of your love, that you will discover her true self again. Blessings. Best Cindy x
Buehler Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 8:34 PM
This is a beautiful, touching tribute to your dear grandmother, Hiya. My beloved late mother suffered from dementia in her last years. I liked the final verse especially. This poem is in my faves. My very best wishes.
Rose  Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 7:08 PM
You will be cherished forever in her memory and yours, dear heart. Grandmothers are angels on earth, with every sharing you do I get to understand your precious soul, better every day :)
Herrick Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Beautiful for your Grandmother. Her whole being knows you. Which is her, not the synthetic jaded facets. My Mother and Grandmother had also suffered this, though for different reasons (Brain Cancer/Alzheimer's). But I realized, and I hope you realize that it is not because of the strength of love or memory. This is as beautiful and real as a poem or sentiment can be crafted. The real Her, shared with you true meaning. She loves you and always will.
Beaufort Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 3:19 PM
A beautiful tribute to your grandmother. I liked how you asked questions that tinge the sweetness with an icing of doubt and wonderment. She is alive in you and the kindness that you give is an honor to her life. It's the best tribute we can give someone like that. I hope she knew how good you are and I suspect from the description that indeed she did.
Alhemaidy Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 2:43 PM
Wonderful tender poem! Have a nice day dear lovely poetess Hiya Shrama :-)
Greenhough Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 1:49 PM
A tender poem of love for a grandmothe--this poem tugs at my heart. The perfumed notes of flowers infuses it with nostalgia.
One Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 11:23 AM
Dear Hiya, Your heartfelt poem serves as a poignant ode to your beloved grandmother, expressing deep emotions and cherished memories. It beautifully illustrates vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey the profound impact and enduring love felt for their grandmother. Dementia is a very bad condition and sadly there is no cure for it.. I wrote a poem called the D word which is about dementia, so I know all about the horrors... I have seen so many suffer from it, especially family..
One Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 11:24 AM
It beautifully captures the complexity of emotions associated with the passage of time, memory, and the enduring love for a grandmother. The language is rich and evocative, drawing readers into the intimate and emotional landscape painted by you..
Andresen Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 11:05 AM
- Oh... the one who could travel back and forth in time... a second chance... do or say things differently... a hug you should have given and didn't ... a lovely poem, Hiya :) - hugs
Kendrick Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 9:57 AM
It must have been nice to have a good relationship with your grandmother like that. I am sure that she meant so much to you back when you were young, and today, I can tell that you miss her presence as it was back then. Dementia does change things. Awesome that she is celebrating another birthday. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and feelings on this topic and for dropping by my page. Sara K
Sharma  Avatar
January 17, 2024 at 8:45 AM
Note: This poem has been written for my maternal grandma, as it's her birthday today. She has dementia and doesn't even remember me or perhaps, somewhere in her faintest memory... I really hope that somehow, her warmth always blesses me in life and my love reaches her heart through this poem.. I hold this one very close to my heart. (Thank you so much for reading, everyone...)
Sands Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 7:31 AM
So very Special!!
Lamoureux Avatar
January 18, 2024 at 5:49 AM
My pleasure to read. Thanks for the additional context.
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