Grandma travelled the Sahara at eighteen,
all she needed packed in two suitcases
the one
almost forgotten
later
on at an airport in Ciaro
when a young man asked her name.
At twenty-five she saw India,
found a husband on the roads
took her father’s disapproval,
wrote a book
Love In India
Then lost him to the army
and swore against rings on fingers
till her last breath.
Paris was calmer in her words.
Less heat
more classical sheik
in restaurants, and a cafe.
Sipping champagne on the Siene
but thinking still in India
of a man and a smile,
of spices and music.
Beirut was exciting.
Claimed she met Philby,
under the cover of darkness
in a little bar off a corner.
Claimed she kissed him,
took his stutter in her mouth
thought him very proper.
In England she tried to settle,
never married
but lived
with a man her father favoured once.
A friend who thought her beautiful,
gave her children
and ears to tell stories.
At ninety she left
with a will naming India
as her home
where she wanted
to return.
They took her ashes,
scattered them across
all the roads that they took
and watched for a man
waiting by the crossroads.
Carol J Forrester - Writing and Works 
A lovely poem.
I life told through travel, very clever and well written.
Thank you, I appreciate you taking the time to say that. 😀
it’s beautiful and i found it calming
Thank you. I wasn’t expecting calming I’ll be honest, but it’s a nice way for it to have been received.
i felt as if i was witnessing her story getting a glimpse at romance and the lingering reminiscence of love.
Fab. That’s exactly how I wanted it to come across. 😀
just one word…beautiful..x
Aw, thank you. 😀
A treasured tale!
Thank you. What a lovely compliment.
This is so seamless and poignant. It feels like her life is a river on which we are floating down.
That fits quite well with what someone else said. I’m glad it’s creating that sort of impression, I wanted it to flow when I wrote it so I’m pleased to see it being received that way.
Nice!
Thank you. 😀
That is so sweet. Her true love waiting for her. sniffle sniffle 😥
Thank you, I’m glad to hear that this piece made such an impression. I’ve found myself much more willing to believe in soul-mates recently and I tend to think that when you’ve found ‘the one’, they will still hold a piece of your heart no matter what follows.
Yes, I think that is true. 🙂