Tuesday, April 12, 2011

A to Z Challenge

A Tribute to the letter  J

Jasmine
My mother loved this poem and my father loved plants. So, he built a trellis and grew a Jasmine vine on it. Jasmine flowers have to be plucked in half bloom because their calyx is too delicate to hold the flower and falls off when the flower is in full bloom. We used to pluck a basket full of buds every summer evening unless it rained. Then there would be mess on the ground.

This is also a tribute to my parents. This is the translation of a very famous Indian Poem.

In the Shade of Jasmine Trellis
two love birds in the light of the moon
like two free spirits, ready to fly,
like fresh flowers, in the afternoon

The cool breeze of the garden
was gently blowing by,
then stopped and rested on
their faces and took a deep sigh

We have seen those two birds
seen them day and night
We have seen them together
during peace time and fights

Is there a mix to cure the pain
Oh, apothecary please do tell
'cause surely the other will fall
if one got hurt and fell

The minarets of mosques have seen them
The bells of churches have seen them,
The tall walls of temples have seen them

This poem is cherished by interfaith and inter racial couple who go through hard times because of society.

11 comments:

Aishah said...

This is so beautiful, and so meaningful. A lovely tribute to a lovely childhood.

Munir, this is me, on some days, I feel more grounded as Aishah, than that girl from the ocean.

Hope said...

that is my favorite scent! I grow a flower here that I'm sure is of the Jasmine family. the flowers open up at night and the fragrance is identical. I don't know the proper name for it but we call it Evening Scented Stock. It does not winter so I plant it every year.

beautiful post and indeed a wonderful memory!

thank you for your comment

Vanilla Mama said...

Thank you - what a lovely poem. I am saving this one :)

Monalisa said...

I have a jasmine plant right at my door, it gives sweet scent early morning and in the dusk. It is so refreshing. My mother was saying, she wants one outside of her bedroom too, so she can smell it all night.

TheFusionTea said...

Lovely, Jasmine is more than tea.

Hold my hand: a social worker's blog said...

Aw...what a beautiful poem. I smelled the jasmine flowers as I read it :-)

Doris

Step-parent's Cove said...

What a wonderful thought. My husband and I are inter racial by God's divine. What we find the hardest is family prejudice. Hence is why he and I have no contact with his children. Their poor mom have poison their little minds. Although several are adults they still seem to think we (my husband and I) did horrible things because their mother told them so.

I try not to publicize we are inter racial just in case his ex and children stumble upon my blog. For I truly do care about how adults treat children before and after divorce.

Yesterday, my husband and I made a pack that we will not speak of them unless there is a situation needing to be discussed. We wish all of them happiness but we as a couple and individuals must move on. There are so many other life issues that demands our precious time.

kochuthresiamma p .j said...

such a lovely post!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

I've always wanted to know more about the nature of the jasmine flower but never took the time to look it up. Thanks to you...many of my unvoiced questions are now answered.

Randi said...

Jasmine--what a beautiful word for the letter "J." The poem was very touching. I had not heard that one before. I also loved your information on the flower.

NormalToEatPB said...

such a beautiful poem