Everytime I see Sash's photos on her mother's blog (courtesy of Yoya or ED) I get so depressed because I don't blog. It seems what may come naturally to the children and grand-children can be not only quite an uphill effort but even intimidating to some of those of my vintage... ( oops sorry, before anyone takes offence perhaps I should just make that strictly for me and my wife) but since this is probably the only way to keep in close touch with Sasha, I just have no choice but to struggle on.
So here I am Sash....... this is for you (written during your first visit home).
So here I am Sash....... this is for you (written during your first visit home).
.........................................................................
SASHA...
Sasha, our very first grand-daughter, our very first grand-child
Barely two months old and already so generous with your smile
Dark brown hair, huge eyes, and heavy cheeks pink as a rose
Clearly daddy's complexion but very much your mother's nose
I think we hit it off - you and me - rather early and quite nicely
Something your nenek agrees with, although perhaps grudgingly
For nenek was the one who was there for your birth to greet you
Travelling all by herself half around the world to meet her cucu
And we were all naturally excited over your first homecoming
But for your nenek to be excited was really quite another thing
If only you could see her check-list of things that needed doing
Including that elaborate cukur jambul that Saturday morning
I thought you handled the entire lengthy ceremony very nicely
Smiling, gurgling, waving your hands all the time at everybody
It was as if you knew you were the reason for the occasion
Fully participating throughout and enjoying all that attention
As you lay there on the big coushion elaborately decorated
On seven layers of Tok's best kain songket intricately folded
The ladies in a half circle reciting their selected verses vibrantly
And you echoing their chorus from time to time enthusiastically
Finally your mum carried you and introduced you to all present
And tiny snips of your hair were carefully and gingerly taken
The strands were placed in a young coconut "bowl" as a token
...of a cultural and symbolic gesture of simple purification
In the years to come you won't remember this ocasion naturally
But you'll have other such events to add to your early memory
And when you grow up, very much a global citizen most likely
These will help remind you of your roots and your family"
Sasha, our very first grand-daughter, our very first grand-child
Barely two months old and already so generous with your smile
Dark brown hair, huge eyes, and heavy cheeks pink as a rose
Clearly daddy's complexion but very much your mother's nose
I think we hit it off - you and me - rather early and quite nicely
Something your nenek agrees with, although perhaps grudgingly
For nenek was the one who was there for your birth to greet you
Travelling all by herself half around the world to meet her cucu
And we were all naturally excited over your first homecoming
But for your nenek to be excited was really quite another thing
If only you could see her check-list of things that needed doing
Including that elaborate cukur jambul that Saturday morning
I thought you handled the entire lengthy ceremony very nicely
Smiling, gurgling, waving your hands all the time at everybody
It was as if you knew you were the reason for the occasion
Fully participating throughout and enjoying all that attention
As you lay there on the big coushion elaborately decorated
On seven layers of Tok's best kain songket intricately folded
The ladies in a half circle reciting their selected verses vibrantly
And you echoing their chorus from time to time enthusiastically
Finally your mum carried you and introduced you to all present
And tiny snips of your hair were carefully and gingerly taken
The strands were placed in a young coconut "bowl" as a token
...of a cultural and symbolic gesture of simple purification
In the years to come you won't remember this ocasion naturally
But you'll have other such events to add to your early memory
And when you grow up, very much a global citizen most likely
These will help remind you of your roots and your family"
................................................................................
So, for what it's worth ...enjoy the poem Sash. Nek, like I was until a few days ago, doesn't blog - period. So I'll be your intermediary because she will not be left out when it comes to any kind of communication with you... love you, don't grow up too quickly. Tok
3 comments:
nicely thought out dad...simply beautiful poem for a beautiful grandchild & niece! made me teary eyed....
Close to home, definately!
Read the poem to Sash. She is an extremely lucky granddaughter to be able to read this one day...well, I suppose we should teach her to read then..hahahaha. Miss you Ayah and hope to see you outside the blog world soon!!
Miss u all too... greatly! Wonder if we can get someone to blog before learning how to read...
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