Grandma’s Lamps

PHOTO PROMPT © Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

THIS WEEK’S WORDS come from “Just One God” by Deborah Cummins: many, track, skyward, porcelain, flawed, birth, desire, ancestral, prayer, morning, bread, skillet

Light flicks skyward by the two lamps
In our ancestral home
A morning prayer in the damp
Meditate with shalom
Life might be flawed but I accept
My desire to heal as I wept
Life might be flawed
Life might be flawed
I’d be good, a promise I kept

As I fry eggs on skillet
Bread bakes in the oven
On a porcelain dish, some nuts
Breakfast for many – done
I am quite on track this morning
Waiting for what the day will bring
I’m quite on track
I’m quite on track
Preparing, frying and baking

The two lamps give a cosy feel
Grandma gave them to us
Giving us light in every meal
Give a sense of calmness
Loving memories in our lives
With us from birth till we were fives
Loving memories
Loving memories
From the photos in our archives*

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

* The Trijan Refrain, created by Jan Turner, consists of three 9-line stanzas, for a total of 27 lines. Line 1 is the same in all three stanzas, although a variation of the form is not to repeat the same line at the beginning of each stanza. In other words, the beginning line of each stanza can be different. The first four syllables of line 5 in each stanza are repeated as the double-refrain for lines 7 and 8. The Trijan Refrain is a rhyming poem with a set meter and rhyme scheme as follows:

Rhyme scheme: a/b/a/b/c/c/d,d refrain of first 4 words of line five /c

Meter: 8/6/8/6/8/8/4,4 refrain/8

For: Friday Fictioneers by Rochelle, Whirligig 81 by Magical Mystical Teacher

Inang’s Sewing Machine

PHOTO PROMPT © Sandra Crook

The photo prompt made me remember my Dad’s mother, “Inang” which is a Tagalog word for mother (could also be a dialect from their province, Bulacan). My Dad’s father, “Amang” died during the Japanese occupation and left a young wife and two children, my father who was 5 and my Aunt, who was three. Inang managed that by sewing clothes for people, she first worked in a clothes factory and then did it privately. Inang worked days and nights so they could survived. I remembered Inang and her old sewing machine. She sewed our school uniforms. Bless her soul.

For: Friday Fictioneers by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

#WQWWC – Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – “Strength”

A story of strength and spirit
Grandparents lived in a hamlet
A fire burning in the hearth
A spark of light, lay it thwart
Grandpa sat with his defiant mood
For several hours the situation brewed
An ancient game he played with Grandma
A status quo both of them not foresaw
Grandma stuck to her ground in darkness
She thought she was right and blameless
Angry sparks were flashing in her eyes
But after some time with all the sighs
They argued, they fought and they made up
The process continued but never a breakup
And like the unperfected Polaroid
They lived a life they both enjoyed
It should fade into oblivion in no time
Their love won and forever sublime

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: #WQWWC – Writers Quote Wednesday Writing Challenge – “Strength”

Generation – Daily Prompt

Good day everyone! I loved my grandparents. My granddad or Tatay as I called him, was a very clever and educated man. He read a lot and that was were I got this habit of reading. When I visited him, there would always be some books that he was reading or had read and he wanted to share some parts or quotes to me. I could also borrow them later. When I had some awards in school and needed to say a speech, he wrote it for me. We also did some crossword puzzles together. And as for my Granny or Nanay, I learned a lot from her – how to be strong and independent. She gave all her grandchildren (girls, mostly) the same piece of material and we ended up wearing the same dress, but with different designs. She had a small store at the end of her life and when we were there for a holiday, we helped her. She gave us some sweets or small present afterwards. She was an interesting cook, she would mix one weird ingredient to another and voila! a meal (not to everyone’s taste, but bless her soul, we tried to eat it).

Look at this black and white photo
Golden anniversary of our grandparents
We were all there, some not even born
Most of them were not with us anymore
And so with this in mind, my homage

Tatay was my idol, a great reader
Died of Parkinson’s disease, still reading
He put the meanings of the difficult words
Wrote them in pencils at the side of books

Nanay, still beautiful in her old age
Long wavy hair, deaf as a post
Her cooking, shall we say, creative
Mixing things we normally don’t mixed

Tia Carol and Tio Fred, both in heaven
Both doctors, humble as pies
Good storytellers, took life leisurely
Spoke the dialect I cannot understand

Tio Alex, bless his soul, only brother
Worked in Customs, good looking
Tia Ludy, still with us, still elegant
Brought the kids on her own

My Mum, my darling mother
Pregnant with our youngest brother
My Dad, I still miss him, now gone
Memories in our hearts and souls

All siblings and cousins
Now all with own families
We used to play together
Our own family portrait

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

my family, my flesh and blood
for that I can sing a ballad
we all take it in great humour
all different but similar

my father’s a chef, mum’s teacher
brother’s nurse, sister a babbler
our dog woofs, of course, our cat purrs
all different but similar

we are there when one’s in trouble
and we are rich in wise counsel
we like food, crackers and cheddar
all different but similar

my family, my flesh and blood
all different but similar

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: Generation

Family Portrait

Look at this black and white photo
Golden anniversary of our grandparents
We were all there, some not even born
Most of them were not with us anymore
And so with this in mind, my homage

Tatay was my idol, a great reader
Died of Parkinson’s disease, still reading
He put the meanings of the difficult words
Wrote them in pencils at the side of books

Nanay, still beautiful in her old age
Long wavy hair, deaf as a post
Her cooking, shall we say, creative
Mixing things we normally don’t mixed

Tia Carol and Tio Fred, both in heaven
Both doctors, humble as pies
Good storytellers, took life leisurely
Spoke the dialect I cannot understand

Tio Alex, bless his soul, only brother
Worked in Customs, good looking
Tia Ludy, still with us, still elegant
Brought the kids on her own

My Mum, my darling mother
Pregnant with our youngest brother
My Dad, I still miss him, now gone
Memories in our hearts and souls

All siblings and cousins
Now all with own families
We used to play together
Our own family portrait

(c) ladyleemanila 2016

For: fourth day of NaPoWriMo 2016

A Story of Strength

A story of strength and spirit
Grandparents lived in a hamlet
A fire burning in the hearth
A spark of light, lay it thwart
Grandpa sat with his defiant mood
For several hours the situation brewed
An ancient game he played with Grandma
A status quo both of them not foresaw
Grandma stuck to her ground in darkness
She thought she was right and blameless
Angry sparks were flashing in her eyes
But after some time with all the sighs
They argued, they fought and they made up
The process continued but never a breakup
And like the unperfected Polaroid
They lived a life they both enjoyed
It should fade into oblivion in no time
Their love won and forever sublime

For: Writing Prompt #149 “Collage 18” and Wordle 241 Mar 6 by Brenda Warren

Granny’s Cottage

Amor gathered some flowers by the hillside on her way. She knew exactly where to go, the patches of lavenders, calendula, cornflower, primrose, morning glory covering the fields. Ah, she loved the scents of the flowers, cool breeze and the leaves still moist from dewdrops. There was a swarm of birds flying above her. And some birds building their nests on the canopy of trees. She saw a little bird on one of the branches and it appeared to be hurt. She gently caught the bird and observed what the matter was. It was bleeding, probably got stuck by a sharp object. She cleaned the bird and tied a piece of cloth to the wound. “You’ll be alright now,” she whispered to it. She continued walking until she reached the edge of the forest, she has completely forgotten what she was supposed to do. She retreated her steps and tried to find her way back to the path. Ah, she remembered. She has to visit her grandmother.

She nearly spilled the jug of apple juice when she saw two ghosts in the middle of the forest. They were busy arguing with each other. She said politely, “excuse me, but can I pass by?” The ghosts noticed her and asked: “aren’t you afraid of ghosts?” “Not really,” answered Amor. “Besides, you were busy arguing about something.” The first ghost said: “I was Juan and this was Pedro, my brother and we had been here in the forest for quite a long time. We were arguing if we could still taste some food or feel anything.” “Ah, why don’t you try one of the cupcakes I baked for my Granny?” Amor offered them each a chocolate cupcake and they both said thanks. “Oh, this is delicious!” they both said thanks and happily let Amor continue on her trip.

Amor reached Granny’s cottage. It was surrounded by herbs, vegetables and other plants, as well as pine and oak trees. Rupert, the dog greeted her and she patted his head. She also gave him a bone from yesterday’s dinner. “Hello, Granny, how are you today?” as she kissed her Granny. Granny was putting the kettle on to make a pot of tea for her and Amor. “Much better now, my dear. What goodies have you brought for our tea?” Amor, being a good granddaughter said, “Why don’t you sit down and rest, Granny and I make the tea. These flowers are for you, Granny, smell them, they’re so sweet! And I’ve got lots of things to tell you, Granny” and on and on Amor telling her of her adventures in the forest. They ate the chocolate cupcakes and drank their tea, laughing and joking as they carried on with their conversation. Amor washed the dishes, cleared up the mess, picked some vegetables from the garden and cooked some soup for Granny. “Thanks, dear, you’re a loving granddaughter, and I think you should set up going back now before it gets dark,” Granny said. So Amor kissed Granny goodbye, patted Rupert’s head and happily set off home. Her visit made Granny’s day.

Character: A bold 19 year-old woman, who comes from a comfortable background, lives in an eco-friendly home and tends to be a bit forgetful. Genre: Fantasy.

For: Flash Fiction Challenge: I LOVE… SOMETHING!!! and wordle 128 by brenda warren

Young and Beautiful’-FFF27

He was a Captain of the Ship from a Spanish lineage, tall, dark and handsome. She was a short, native Filipina, with big brown eyes, flat nose, and long wavy hair. Both young and beautiful, they fell in love and got married. Everything was rosy. They had many children. They called each other “dear” until the end of their lives. He loved reading; he wrote the meaning of some words at the side of the books he read. She was a good business woman. He died of Parkinson’s disease; she followed after 6 months, perhaps from a broken heart… My grandparents’ story.

 

For: Flash Fiction Foray by Matt, the Book Blogger

“Love Is In Da Blog” ~ Grandparents

Good day everyone! I loved my grandparents. My granddad or Tatay as I called him, was a very clever and educated man. He read a lot and that was were I got this habit of reading. When I visited him, there would always be some books that he was reading or had read and he wanted to share some parts or quotes to me. I could also borrow them later. When I had some awards in school and needed to say a speech, he wrote it for me (my speech in Prep). We also did some crossword puzzles together. And as for my Granny or Nanay, I learned a lot from her – how to be strong and independent. She gave all her grandchildren (girls, mostly) the same piece of material and we ended up wearing the same dress, but with different designs. She had a small store at the end of her life and when we were there for a holiday, we helped her. She gave us some sweets or small present afterwards. She was an interesting cook, she would mix one weird ingredient to another and voila! a meal (not to everyone’s taste, but bless her soul, we tried to eat it). Anyway, here’s my old blog about them (Digging for Roots). Hope you like it. Cheers, Ladylee x

The Captain and the Teacher. He was a Captain of the Ship from a Spanish lineage. Tall, dark and handsome, he always had a pipe on his mouth. She was a short, native Filipina, with big brown eyes, flat nose, and long wavy hair. She was one of the first teachers graduated under the Americans. They met, fell in love and got married. They had many children, my mother being the second to the youngest. They called each other “dear” until the end of their lives. He loved reading; he wrote the meaning of some words at the side of the books he read. She was a good business woman, bought some cloth materials in Quezon and sold them in Marinduque. He died of Parkinson’s disease; she followed after 6 months, perhaps from a broken heart… My grandparents’ story.

https://justfoolingaroundwithbee.wordpress.com/2015/02/20/love-is-in-da-blog-grandparents/