The Sweet Scent of Lavender

I won a basket of lavender goodies on a local raffle
It bought a smile to my face
And bought back many memories
Of a lovely lady I once knew

Her husband was a retired GP
She had Parkinson’s Disease you see
She couldn’t be left on her own
He would get on the phone and I would run

She was 83 years old and as bright as a button
I would ‘granny sit’ for her to keep her from harm
Her favourite scent was lavender, and I would always hear her say
Can you get the lavender water for my hands today?

I would gently rub the water onto her gnarled hands
She would smell the sweet scent and smile
And tell me stories of her life
Of happy times and tragedy, the hours spent would fly by

I would hear the same stories time after time
Her mind would wander, but I didn’t mind
I could smile and laugh at the appropriate place
She would shed a tear and I would wipe them from her face

The tragedy in her life was her daughter Rosamund Yvonne
She was born with Down’s Syndrome – even now I can still see her smiling face
Her photo took pride of place on the grand piano
We would look at that faded picture and the old lady would smile

Her daughter passed away at five years old
But still the stories I was told every day
If I smell lavender now it brings back many a memory
Of that lovely old lady and Rosamund Yvonne
Copyright © | Year Posted 2014

Poem

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A  Avatar
June 27, 2016 at 8:31 PM
Jan, sad write..:( SKAT
Allison Avatar
August 31, 2016 at 12:16 PM
Thanks Skat:-) hugs Jan xx
Haight Avatar
May 7, 2016 at 4:00 PM
Very touching, Jan. I enjoyed reading your sweet poem and the memories that lavender now holds for you. Congratulations on your fine win in the contest. Hugs, Sandra
Allison Avatar
May 7, 2016 at 4:09 PM
Thanks Sandra:-) hugs Jan xx
Scars Avatar
May 6, 2016 at 2:32 PM
Jan, a very touching poem, congrats on your placement in the memories contest :)-luloo
Allison Avatar
May 7, 2016 at 4:45 AM
Thanks Luloo:-) hugs Jan xx
Chansarkar Avatar
May 6, 2016 at 2:27 PM
How lovely Jan!
Allison Avatar
May 7, 2016 at 4:44 AM
Thanks Sara:-) hugs Jan xx
Negron Flores Avatar
May 6, 2016 at 1:30 PM
Congratulations Jan on the placement of the contest.
Allison Avatar
May 7, 2016 at 4:44 AM
Thanks Nayda - I love this scent in fact am suffering with a stressful situation at the moment and am using it daily:-) hugs Jan xx
Jones Avatar
February 1, 2015 at 6:30 PM
Jan, this is a wonderfully penned piece of poetry. Hang on to those memories dear friend. Well done. :O) Keep up with the great work. Keep on penning. Thank you so very much for sharing your wonderful and creative talents with us. We all truly appreciate it. *S* Cynthia
Allison Avatar
February 2, 2015 at 1:04 AM
Thanks so much Cynthia:-) Hugs Jan xx
Durham Iii Avatar
December 18, 2014 at 9:56 AM
hey jan nice poem. thanks for the feedback and the poem type is free verse
Allison Avatar
December 18, 2014 at 10:23 AM
thank you - this was one of my very early writes - have learned so much since then! hugs Jan xxxx
Shiells Avatar
June 2, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Hi Jan, This was extraordinary. Such a tender sweet and sad write. But, I really think that women must have known how special you were as well. Sweet memory of how you cared for her and how she was able to smile and smell lavender:~) What a beautiful write my friend. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful write with us. Love and Peace, Deborah
Allison Avatar
June 2, 2014 at 5:41 PM
Every time I smell lavender I think of her and the wonderful chats we had together - she really was a remarkable old lady. she had a saying ' three things never come back, the spoken word, the sped arrow and the neglected opportunity' the older I get the more these words ring true! hugs as ever jan xxx
Brewer Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 4:34 PM
Lovely poem Jan,also a topic I am all too familiar with.A little different to your other poems,well written xxx your friend Jenny xx
Allison Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 4:44 PM
Thanks Jenny was a step out of my comfort zone from rhymes. thank you so much for you feedback Jan xxxxxxxxx
Enriquez Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 9:31 AM
Dear Jan: So sad, this tale. But lavender is an heart-warming fragrance! Leon
Allison Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 10:11 AM
thanks Leon. i won the prize yesterday and a colleague challenged me to write a poem about lavender and the memories came flooding back. i love the smell its so therapeutic and calming. Jan xxx
Stephens Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Hi, this brought to mind my job as a carer and the aged people who loved to tell me interesting details about their younger years. A very good write. Enjoyed reading it. Regards, Theresa xx
Allison Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 10:10 AM
aww thanks Theresa. I am a carer my parents are 91 and 89 I am so lucky to still have them. mum now has dementia but dad does an amazing job bless them thanks for the lovely comment Jan xx
Smith Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 8:54 AM
What a beautiful story Jan...A great memory....Hugs Tim
Allison Avatar
February 14, 2014 at 8:57 AM
Aww thanks Tim I won this hamper of lavender goodies on a raffle yesterday and a colleague challenged me to write a poem about it. I looked after this old lady over 30 yrs ago but the memories came flooding back. hugs Jan xx
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