What does happy look like to you?
They fill the shelves with How To Be Happy,
but it's a sale.
What if you could be happy
without the sale?
What does happy look like to me?
My parents at the bottom of the garden,
Dad investigating his old domain;
He used to be the one who
cleared the ivy, tidied the hedges,
raked the weeds and watered the green -
Time took his eyes away,
but not the pride.
Nothing half remembered about that.
Arm in arm, they take a turn
about each bed, each nook, each curve;
Mum describes the changing years
in patterns of leaves,
trading the memory of colour
with his cane; but her hands
still tell most of the stories -
he accepts this was always her way.
Golden fields beyond their figures;
My mother's laughter, the evening chorus.
Wood pigeons salute their love.
(c) Shaista Tayabali, 2018
linking here with my fellow Dverse Poets
They fill the shelves with How To Be Happy,
but it's a sale.
What if you could be happy
without the sale?
What does happy look like to me?
My parents at the bottom of the garden,
Dad investigating his old domain;
He used to be the one who
cleared the ivy, tidied the hedges,
raked the weeds and watered the green -
Time took his eyes away,
but not the pride.
Nothing half remembered about that.
Arm in arm, they take a turn
about each bed, each nook, each curve;
Mum describes the changing years
in patterns of leaves,
trading the memory of colour
with his cane; but her hands
still tell most of the stories -
he accepts this was always her way.
Golden fields beyond their figures;
My mother's laughter, the evening chorus.
Wood pigeons salute their love.
(c) Shaista Tayabali, 2018
linking here with my fellow Dverse Poets
I love your happy. Parents are special and precious.
ReplyDeleteI love your parents. And you and your SPECTACULARLY wonderful family, whom I would adopt in a heartbeat, if I could. You are lucky you live across the pond, or you might find me on your doorstep too many times. Smiles. I still hope one day I will find you on mine! I love your poem and can picture your folks wandering the garden as your mother describes the state of the blooms...........lovely. What makes me happy? Everything that is beyond price, of great worth: blue skies, clouds, forests, waves, birds, animals, dogs, wolves, books, movies, my adorable little village. And my friends.
ReplyDeleteHappy should be like that, not packaged and sold.
ReplyDeleteI really like what your happy looks like. Nicely done.
ReplyDeletePat
You chose perfect subjects for your Happy Poem. Beautifully composed, a joy to read.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and heartfelt sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love the photos of you parents as well!
ReplyDeleteHappiness is a loving family...yes!! Thanks for sharing this endearing poem.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - warmed my heart 💞
ReplyDeleteHappiness is family! What a heartwarming write, Shaista and lovely pics!
ReplyDelete"with his cane; but her hands
ReplyDeletestill tell most of the stories -
he accepts this was always her way."
This is SO beautiful, Shaista!
Much love,
David
SkepticsKaddish.com
This is lovely. They sound like very special people.
ReplyDelete