She places her half eaten guava on the table
with a knife, she starts to slice the bananas,
into the bowl of sweetened coconut milk,
when she hears the music booming in the streets
Putting down her apron, she stands up to peer
through the gates, where drums and dancers beat to the hot sun
Banners and stilts proclaim the festival of the mother moon
Running to her closet, she unwraps the headdress and red clothes
In the mirror, she sees a butterfly, gliding and swaying in the air
With a smile, she goes out into the crowd, clapping her hands
Twirling her arms to the rhythmic beat of native song,
She forgets the meal, the strings of duties that engulf her day
Specially on this day
Happy Mother's Day ~
Happy. mothers day dear Grace!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day to you too ~
DeleteYay! Live it up! ♥
ReplyDeleteOf course Jinksy ~ ha..ha..Thanks ~
DeleteGreat job bringing the two pics as one, enjoy life no matter what we have thrown our way. Enjoy mother's day too!
ReplyDeletelife-affirming - written so well this scene is easy to imagine.
ReplyDeleteThat is beautiful, Grace! You created a beautiful scene.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeletedancers and singers really get in the zone on performance day, and only things that have to do with the upcoming performance count.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful write Grace! Happy Mother's Day, Ma'am!
ReplyDeleteHank
Such perfection in combining these prompts!!! I love this part so much:
ReplyDelete" she sees a butterfly, gliding and swaying in the air
With a smile, she goes out into the crowd, clapping her hands"
Such a poignant image and celebratory feeling!! Wonderful!
How lovely, Grace, to provide a moment of respite and beauty to a woman about her work. I love the traditional lifestyle to which you allude.
ReplyDeleteUplifting and inspiring...we should all embrace that inner butterfly and make the most of our days!
ReplyDeleteSo sweet and such a joyous spirit, as we all should have... happy mother's day!!
ReplyDeleteThanks as I was in a rush to go to church ~ Done ~
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Glad the meal was forgotten :) Happy Mother's day Grace!
ReplyDeleteAnd happy Mother's Day to you! At least you got the fruit on the table right. I almost went off on asparagus but caught myself just in time. Nice poem, Grace.
ReplyDeletesmiles...you set the scene nice before leading us into the celebration...i like her joy in it, and willingness to let everything else go to join in...smiles...
ReplyDeleteGood for her!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day!
I like the way you tied this photo of the Chinese woman to the ordinary work of a woman's day. And actually when I took this photo we had seen lots of dancing in the streets in traditional clothing as you seem to have captured. Thanks for responding to my photo prompt.
ReplyDeleteI love the scene you have created with your words and pictures. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers among us.
ReplyDeleteOh I do like how you spin a story! Nicely done!
ReplyDeleteGreat response to both prompts! And to mother's day! k.
ReplyDeleteReally sweet! Hope your Mother's Day was truly special.
ReplyDeletebeautifully written.. loved the little story there..wonderful.. :)
ReplyDeletedef would rather dance than cook!!! very lovely xx
ReplyDeleteWho wouldn't choose dancing over preparing food?! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, Grace! I just love this part: "drums and dancers beat to the hot sun Banners and stilts proclaim the festival of the mother moon" It sure makes me want to dance with her.
ReplyDeleteIn the opening, I enjoyed the mixture of guava, banana, and coconut milk; I could almost taste the dance of flavors.
I think my favorite description is that of her seeing the butterfly while she's looking in the mirror, almost as if her spirit is the butterfly ready to fly away from duty and dance in the street for a while. :)
Beautiful work.
You have captured a happy feeling of spirituality and celebration in your response to this prompt, Grace. I love the flow of feelings expressed here. Thank you for sharing. =D
ReplyDeleteA beautiful celebration of all mothers! Love this Grace! :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is a glorious celebratory poem ....
ReplyDeleteMmm! I love that guava. :-) Happy Mother's Day!
ReplyDeleteI was slightly confused at first by the double- barrelled nature of the poem, but greatly impressed by your use of coconut milk. I found that impossibly difficult to fit into the rhythms of my poem, so Bravo you!
ReplyDeleteWhen a get a chance, dance! I love this...so very good.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and nice tribute to the woman on a special day.
ReplyDelete