I’ve always found her warm and glowing
tiptoeing with a soft sunny smile,
graceful in her orange breath,
in cloudless, blue sari.
She talked to me
in exotic bird voice.
Her running steps in cricket field
that came to us through radio
were our heartbeats.
I’ve always loved her for that.
On one hand she held Nabanna*
On the other an earthen pot
filled with jaggery.
Her yellow mustard-field shawl
swayed in the cool north wind.
She has changed with time, sadly.
Now she pricks me with memories
till I bleed badly.
I love her still for all she was.
*Nabanna meaning New Crop is a Bengali harvest celebration. Several music and dance forms have grown out of the rituals accompanied with the festival: Wikipedia
Posted for Sanaa’s Prompt Nights – Winter my dear would be cold without warm memories – [37] over @ A Dash Of Sunny
&
Shared with Poetry Pantry @ Poets United
sumanar/lekha 
Oh Sumana!❤️💝this is absolutely exquisitely penned, the emotions here are so raw and tangible. Especially love; ” Her running steps in cricket field that came to us through radio were our heartbeats. I’ve always loved her for that.” and oh “In one hand she held Nabanna* in the other an earthen pot filled with jaggery.” Thank you so much for participating at Prompt Nights and for your constant love and support❤️💝
Lots of love,
Sanaa
This is beautifully heartbreaking, Sumana. The pain dances and weeps in every line… I love that it ends on a smile, even if bittersweet. For I, too, believe that even when things are no longer as we want them to be, we should always treasure the memories of when they were perfect.
You’ve created such strong imagery that resonates emotionally as well as visually. Warmth just exudes from this piece even though the pain of loss isn’t minimized at all.
I love the bird voice and the “running steps…our heartbeats”. I so know how the memories prick us till we bleed. Yet they are beautiful, so we go on remembering.
This is a perfect portrayal of winter… beautiful…:-)
That last line strikes me strongly….”I love her for all she was.” Sometimes we have to do JUST that!
This really is such beautiful writing Sumana. Memories are often sad but we would never want to be without them.
What a beautiful personification!
This is really lovely, filled with passion and memory. A winter so different than ours with it’s cold and snow.
It fills me with warmth 🙂
She has changed with time, sadly.
Now she pricks me with memories
It is sad when relationships changed with time. Only memories remained, obviously. Pity!
Hank
Oh! How wonderful!
Vivid images and a heartfelt piece. I especially like the ending. Beautifully penned, Sumana!
Love the mustard field shawl…what a great winter image.
wow! The way you described winter is so enchanting and beautiful.
How we perceive winter certainly can change.. even when the colours are rich we can feel cold inside…the imagery in this wonderful poem is so vibrant – i particularly enjoyed the pot of jaggery
an icy touch to these memories which cut to the core but you wove with such an eye for colour and love
This is poignant and beautiful!
Memories arouse mixed emotions in me too.
So many wonderful images, through personification of a season… (or a person being a season maybe)
The personification of the season is made more intense within the context of your country. I like the use of colour, especially the mustard field and blue sari.
I think winter days bring memories some filled with joy and some sorrow. Thank you for the explanation of the festival as I have not heard of it before. Have a wonderful Sunday
Those finals lines in particular are powerful and moving.
Well done! An exquisite piece. ❤
Though, obviously, it wasn’t intentional this piece made me think of my mother. She changed so much in the last 5 years of her life. For me: “Now she pricks me with memories till I bleed badly. I love her still for all she was.” – is so evocative of watching an elderly loved one fade.
Yes, the world is beautiful in winter, in all her seasons and finery. This is a very well-penned love poem,
Elizabeth
http://soulsmusic.wordpress.com
A very beautifully expressed sentiment of winter.
A tropical muse? She doesn’t seem like Winter.
winter in our part of the world is a beauty but she’s only for a while leaves as quickly as she comes…
This is such beatiful imagery. I like the pricking with memories ’til you bleed. Lovely writing Sumana.