The Look

 

Two or three times a year I make trips to Chennai to be with my parents for a few weeks. My mother is 85 years old.?I notice every shade of emotion that runs along her wrinkles as she narrates incidents from her childhood days . . . and I do notice the?mischievous sparkle in her eyes that tells me she remembers the number of times she has repeated these stories to me.

 

the nemesis
of growing old ?
looking everywhere
for my glasses
but in the mirror

 

 

 

(“the nemesis” first published in Ribbons, winter 2015

—

Issue 17.1 | 15 May 2017

20 Responses

  1. Mojde Says:
    May 15th, 2017 at 8:52 am

    Beautiful

    a far sight…
    an autobiography of a mother
    a biography of a daughter
    recalled,
    to be remembered

  2. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:15 am

    Thank you.
    Thank you so much for your beautiful comment
    _()_

  3. Magyar Says:
    May 15th, 2017 at 9:15 am

    ___ Heartful and memorable, Kala; my parallel… I often find my own glasses… in the mirror. _m

  4. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:14 am

    Ho hoho! Magyar
    Happy you could relate to this :))
    _()_

  5. Purushothama rao Ravel Says:
    May 15th, 2017 at 10:30 am

    Every incident related to mother spins sweetness. Nostalgic one indeed..

  6. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:14 am

    Ha! Ravela,
    Thanks a tonne, for taking the time to comment about this piece.
    Happy you liked it so much.
    _()_

  7. Annette Says:
    May 15th, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Wonderful. I love the multiple meanings of "The Look."

  8. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:13 am

    True. _()_

    So happy to note that 'the look' did get across
    ^_^ ^_^

  9. Sheila Sondik Says:
    May 15th, 2017 at 12:33 pm

    What a beautiful piece—full of empathy, love, and fond amusement.

  10. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:12 am

    I'm so very happy you like this tanka prose, Sheila.
    _()_

  11. Marie Shimane Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 1:11 am

    Ah, it does everything!

  12. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 3:11 am

    Thanks a ton, Marie _()_

  13. donnafleischer Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 1:21 pm

    Growing old is yet one more journey and I choose your gifted haibun as a companion. Thank you, Kala. Warm regards, Donna

  14. kalaramesh Says:
    May 16th, 2017 at 5:36 pm

    Thanks so much, Donna. Happy you could relate to it so well. . . what you say is so true.

  15. seaviewwarrenpoint Says:
    May 17th, 2017 at 2:38 am

    Lovely, Kala – fondness and humour.

    I usually find my glasses on my head! :)

    marion

  16. kalaramesh Says:
    May 17th, 2017 at 5:08 am

    Ha haha!
    Common occurrence!
    Thanks, Marion

  17. aniketnikhade Says:
    May 18th, 2017 at 10:52 pm

    Absolutely interesting and also sublte in it's way of telling everything. The best thing is it never loses focus and attention towards what's the cause. Also there is a sense of humour in it. An interesting way of telling things.

  18. kalaramesh Says:
    June 2nd, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    Thanks, Aniket Nikhade.
    Truly happy you liked this tanka prose.
    Deeply touched

  19. marykendall Says:
    June 13th, 2017 at 9:10 am

    Dear Kala, I love the story in this and your humor. I have certainly been in that position with my glasses too. Growing older is something we need to temper with humor and reflection as you've done so well here. Lovely!

  20. kalaramesh Says:
    July 3rd, 2017 at 8:18 am

    Thanks, Mary.
    What a beautiful comment.

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