Saturday 21 July 2012

on growing roots


                                                   
she tells me in soft lilting voice, 
that these things take time to grow
as i pat the soil neatly, gently around the stalk,
drizzle a bit of water, and  place the pot 
beside my window, where i am sure 
the morning light will strike, brighter than oil-lamp.        


in my child eyes, the seed leaves are gathering strength, 
wind power and soon there will be a tree in my room. 
taking my small hands, she leads me 
to shell-cased windows, overlooking the fields of sugarcane. 


with a steely gaze, she surveys the sloping hills and trees, as 
one familiar with the grooves of the skin,  parting of the limbs, 
sweaty arms in harvest, sweet partake of freshly cut cane on mouth, 
filling stomachs, rooting faith deeply in the sun-baked land.   


her petite frame belies strength of raising five children,
and caring for the plantation families, all sharing the same roots.  
she knew all their names, including their children, grandchildren 
as one who has planted all the stems in the open field.   

my recollection of her is faint now, but i remember
her delicate hands gifting me with more than just 


a pot of mongo seeds 



Posted for Real Toads:  I chose the vintage picture of my maternal grandmother.  She was a sharp and well-traveled woman even in her later years.     


and D'verse Poets Pub:  Poetics - in Schiller's footsteps 







55 comments:

  1. i imagine that she did...you paint a beautiful and delicate moment together...i like the wisdom in the seeds as well...she taught you a valuable lesson...great capture grace...

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    1. Thanks for the lovely words and support Brian ~

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  2. Sounds like she was a wonderful person and very hard working too, and surely passed on a thing or two.

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    1. She was generous person and kind to everyone. Thanks Pat ~

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  3. Your grandmother is beautiful and looks like a 'class act," Heaven! Isn't it sad how you forget so many things about someone who influenced you and meant a lot to you? At least now by writing this poem, you have found another way to memorialize her!

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    1. Thank you Mary. I knew her starting age 6 and older as my mother was estranged from the family because she married my father. And I got to know her only for a short period because she died in my teens. But she was some woman ~

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  4. Sounds like a remarkable woman... and you have painted a vivid picture of her. Your adoration shines through, too.

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  5. "with a steely gaze, she surveys the sloping hills and trees, as
    one familiar with the grooves of the skin, parting of the limbs,
    sweaty arms in harvest, sweet partake of freshly cut cane on mouth,
    filling stomachs, rooting faith deeply in the sun-baked land."

    ROOTING FAITH of course. She is the land and the tree and the seeds and the things she knows. How lucky that you got to spend time with that strength and tenderness, which she rooted in you.

    And an image that especially resonates in my life is: "in my child eyes, the seed leaves are gathering strength, / wind power and soon there will be a tree in my room." because, I too, thought the promise was always immediate and huge. When Grandma said she was bringing me Martha Washington's boots, I did not expect a china figurine. I expected that my brother and I would be each in a boot having sack-like races up and down the driveway. Ha! But that kind of thinking plants magic, fairy dust, worlds we must find or create.

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    1. In the past, the land was everything to our family, passing down from one generation to the next. As a child, I had big dreams but she showed me that hard work comes with the making it true.

      Thanks for the lovely words Susan.

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    2. Is the land still in your family? or did the roots she planted go into your other dreams?

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    3. The land is still within the family but since she was a well traveled lady, she insisted on a good education for everyone. I like to believe that she was a progressive thinker and encourage us women to do well in life ~

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  6. WOW! Heaven! I LOVE your beautiful poem. Your grandma was so beautiful, and sounds so wise. What a lovely tribute you have written to her. One of my favorites of yours!

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  7. What a beautiful and strong woman! It's wonderful that you got to know her for at least a short time. A great tribute to your grandmother.

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  8. Gorgeous deep and fulfilling poem Grace. What a beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman. I know you have become very like her as everything you write shows the value of your name -- grace!

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  9. a woman to look up to, Grace - you have portrayed her beautifully, lovingly

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  10. Your grandmother was so beautiful..physically and in spirit. A lovely sharing between the two of you..memories embedded.

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  11. She must have meant a great deal to you and taught you many things to have warranted such a beautiful poem!

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  12. she sounds like an awesome woman..5 children..the hard work and stil time and patience to teach valuable lessons.. that's beautiful and so is she..love the pic

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  13. I have so many favourite poems of yours, Grace, but this just shot to the top of the list.
    I am awe-struck by the beauty of each carefully balanced line, and the great heart of womanhood you have etched for us between them.

    in my child eyes, the seed leaves are gathering strength,
    wind power and soon there will be a tree in my room...

    with a steely gaze, she surveys the sloping hills and trees, as
    one familiar with the grooves of the skin, parting of the limbs,
    sweaty arms in harvest, sweet partake of freshly cut cane on mouth...

    Just brilliant poetry.

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  14. "she knew all their names, including their children, grandchildren
    as one who has planted all the stems in the open field"

    It's amazing how some individuals can remember names of generation after them.It's a measure of their fondness and care, I suppose!. Great tribute, Grace!

    Hank

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  15. beautiful capture of your roots and their strength for you

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  16. This is a wonderful tribute to your grandmother but also to women as well. Our strength, our wisdom and our love is at it's greatest when we share it with one another.

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  17. She is truly amazing. :) How wonderfully you wrote of her and her lesson to you. It makes me think of one of my grandmothers as well, so gentle and precious the memories and lessons. Thank you for sharing this and the picture -- she is beautiful.

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  18. a lovely poem Grace
    i remember collecting bulbs from a field with my nana. =)

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  19. An excellently painted portrait.

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  20. Your grandmother was beautiful and, we can see just from looking at her, she had style and grace. What a lovely read this all was. We can also see she taught you many things in such a way that you would never forget her words. I love the depth of this Grace, the love of land and growth of nature just oozes from the page. What a lovely read to get up to in my morning. :) Thanks for sharing you grandmother's picture. Maybe one day we'll get to see you :)

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  21. wow Heaven... beautiful write... a little different for you... very nice

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  22. An awesome write in tribute to an obviously wonderful grandmother. Very nice!

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  23. Lovely. We can always return home to the people we love, admire, and respect. Even if only in our dreams and poems. A wonderful tribute that I'm sure has touched many hearts.

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  24. Discovered your blog a while ago ... so lovely ... so lovely ... thank you for sharing ... Love, cat (http://catsruledogsdroole.blogspot.com/)

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  25. This is such a nostalgic beauty! Glad I've dropped by.

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  26. everything (and everyone) has roots; I think you captured that quite well here. it sounds like your grandmother has instilled in you the power of good strong roots.

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  27. a warm and fabulous tribute...and such a great poem as well.esp the line on rooting faith in sun baked lands.

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  28. a deeply loving poem. roots and seeds with roots and seeds. this poem is an example of why I love poetry so much. feelings of love and sweet appreciation can be made so clear in a work like this.

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  29. Powerful and thoughtful poem, Heaven. Its good of you to pay tribute to your grandmother. Wherever she is I'm sure she's thankful and proud of you.

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  30. Beautiful memory; beautiful grandmother.

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  31. Wow , Its thoughtful !!! Deep !!! Its a great Tribute !!!
    I am a Fan !

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  32. I like the transitioning between nurturing plants and children. A lovely view of gardens - both real and metaphorical. Thanks for an enjoyable read today :)

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  33. This is lovely, and it brought back wonderful memories of my own grandmother whose green thumb always rejuvenated plants, even dying ones. The tenderness shown for living things was so strong in her, even with her hard farm life. You have drawn such a tender portrait of your grandma and her ability to care for all things.

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  34. This is such a beautifully captured moment!

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  35. wonderful way to pay your tribute here...well writtten G

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  36. nicely done heaven. i love being able to peek in on a memory and person you hold dear. thank you for sharing her.

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  37. Deep treasures to be found in this lovely reflection, or perhaps contemplation. I fear the roots grow weaker these days, but maybe a free flight should be embraced as well.
    Rick

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  38. Heaven,
    This is gorgeous, as is your grandmother~
    Each line dances in finding the beauty in hard times~
    You have captured the beauty of her soul, what a wonderful tribute
    to someone near n' dear!
    I loved that you used her photo!

    Your imagery gave such a rich, exotic tone...

    This was touching and reminds me how much I miss my grandmothers!

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  39. Could I use the photo of your grandmother in a piece of art?! I would make one for you, if you give me permission?! Thank you :D
    ellasedge@gmail.com

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  40. Very good write! My grandmother always taught how we were all connected. She was the candy lady and I wondered how she remembered everyone's name.

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  41. beautiful poem..this hit home for me because my grandmother who just recently passed away loved gardening! your words are beautiful and so was your grandmother

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  42. "in my child eyes, the seed leaves are gathering strength,
    wind power and soon there will be a tree in my room."

    I loved these lines.. :)

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  43. What a beautiful and wise woman your grandmother was. I am sure you have inherited many of her traits. I agree with Phil, those are my favorite lines, too. I just love "and soon there will be a tree in my room" because it speaks so well of a child's faith in ancestral wisdom.
    K

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  44. Grace, she is a beautiful woman and she taught you well. Her strength and wisdom was passed certainly passed down to you too.

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  45. Beautiful photo and your reflection is an excellent way to honor her. I like this poem very much.

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  46. I love this line: "wind power and soon there will be a tree in my room"

    And this section: "with a steely gaze, she surveys the sloping hills and trees, as
    one familiar with the grooves of the skin, parting of the limbs,
    sweaty arms in harvest, sweet partake of freshly cut cane on mouth"

    Beautiful, lulling sound throughout. A lovely gentle rolling.

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  47. she's so beautiful, and that she kept her figure, in those days, amazing!!

    4 child with book senryu

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  48. Lovely tribute to one who must have sown many types of seeds...

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Thanks for your visit and comments ~ I appreciate them ~