Pete Ak
01-10-2013, 06:53 PM
nb. “Iyaiya” is the Yoruba word for grandmother.
Iyaiya creaked around
filling her world selflessly,
eyes brimful of loss and wisdom.
Yet her smile stayed forever kind as she averred
over and over, that I must love God
and take deep breaths whenever I might lose my temper.
Once, during Mass, Father Charles said something funny
and Mama Agbo, slapped her thighs and laughed so hard
she almost ran out of breath.
When we hugged, I’d bury my nose in her plump folds.
Even now, the aroma from blossoms of the Ratri rani
and the smell of baked coconut pudding evokes eternity.
At bedtime, tales tippy-tapped from her lips
which, when she gave me a goodnight kiss,
seemed to taste of butterscotch syrup.
Mama taught me to see where
selfishness and dishonesty
scour the textures of the world
til it wears so thin,
I must take care not to rip it
and let emptiness in.
(This is a re-write of "Two Things Made Her Smile" - http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?72927-Two-things-made-her-smile&p=1192565#post1192565)
Iyaiya creaked around
filling her world selflessly,
eyes brimful of loss and wisdom.
Yet her smile stayed forever kind as she averred
over and over, that I must love God
and take deep breaths whenever I might lose my temper.
Once, during Mass, Father Charles said something funny
and Mama Agbo, slapped her thighs and laughed so hard
she almost ran out of breath.
When we hugged, I’d bury my nose in her plump folds.
Even now, the aroma from blossoms of the Ratri rani
and the smell of baked coconut pudding evokes eternity.
At bedtime, tales tippy-tapped from her lips
which, when she gave me a goodnight kiss,
seemed to taste of butterscotch syrup.
Mama taught me to see where
selfishness and dishonesty
scour the textures of the world
til it wears so thin,
I must take care not to rip it
and let emptiness in.
(This is a re-write of "Two Things Made Her Smile" - http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?72927-Two-things-made-her-smile&p=1192565#post1192565)