i have it with me yet
that pink-white morning rose-
browned now but still fragrant
with memories of your gentleness
retaining even now
a trace of the care that i know
you must have lavished upon it
before you gave it to me
it lies flattened between the pages of
Little Women
i dare not move it from there
for fear that the petals will crumble
a sole physical reminder
of something shared
a comforter when i am
in a pensive mood
feeling like i’ve lost
that nothing is going my way
i look between the pages
to find a smile
and a tear
share equal space
on my nostalgic face

- Vijayalakshmi Harish
    22.01.2013
    Copyright © Vijayalakshmi Harish