Miguel, Paco, Pablo,
Alicia, Monsalud, Jose, and Adam
My daughter introduced me
“Mia Madre”
No America handshake
I mastered the art of the “dos besos”
…the two kisses
Coffee in the teachers lounge
A mix of Spanish and English spoken
to the back drop of the espresso machine
I watched my daughter
teach an English lesson
to a class of “first years”
eleven and twelve year olds
whose command of English
far surpassed my stab at Spanish
“mi amo Peggy, no hablo espanol.”
After school, Monsalud played tour guide
in Janduar; she led us down orange tree
lined streets towards an old Catholic church
Its red brick facade tinged
with black soot from diesel exhaust.
We ate lunch in the center of town
red wine and cerveza
mushroom caps bathed in olive oil, bread,
calamari, and something like American potato salad.
Monsalud invites us into her home
Spacious and welcoming
Larger than I expected
I walk into her backyard
a grapevine twists and curls
creating a natural pergola
Two lemon trees
provide a bounty
of fresh lemons
Fresh herbs grow
in a makeshift garden
rosemary, thyme, sage, and dill
I don’t want to go
but there’s a 5PM bus to catch
back to Jaen
I lean my head against
the window and sleep
*****
The Grapevine
The Rosemary Tree
Beautiful Tiles
My daughter Jessica and Monsalud
I graciously accept the Perfect Poet Award for the Thursday Poets Rally Week 43!
Please be sure to check out Leo’s poems as well!
Peggy, so beautiful that I want to join you! Thank you for this… and happy birthday!
You would have fun in Spain with me Megan!
I *love* your first day in Spain! Makes it my first day too:) Gorgeous on all levels..thank *you* for sharing:)
Thank you Joy! It feels good to be writing this way again!!
Thanking you for taking me on this trip to Spain. You truly painted a lovely picture.
You are so welcome Marlee!
it looks like a fabulous attraction.
smiles.
welcome back and have fun,
Happy Mother’s DAy,
Happy Mother’s Day to Moms around you. Blessings..
Thanks so much Jingle and for the lovely award!!
There is allure in the Spanish you drop in. I love those images!
Thanks Salem!
Beautiful. I was right there with you!
Love the grapevine and those tiles.
Thanks for sharing.
Andy – the grapevine was amazing. ONE vine did all that!
Very nice. You’ve captured the southern Spain essence.
Enjoy the rally.
Having been to Spain, I had your images in place before seeing your photographs. Lovely trip. Gracias.
De nada!
Oh, how I’d love to see Spain! I like your description of the place, as well as the pictures of the grapevine and the quaint-looking street.
I encourage you to visit Spain. Beautiful country!!
Enjoy reading your poem.
I love the rosemary tree.
Good story paired with good pictures – a nice way to start the morning.
Thanks Paul!
I’ve always wanted to go to Spain — now more than ever. Beautiful poem!
Judy – you’ll love Spain! I highly recommend it!!
Hello,
Appreciate your participation at poets rally,
Please return favor to poets who are here yet you did not reach them initially,
Bless your day.
Have fun!
LET US KNOW AFTER YOU ARE DONE.
Doing the best I can right now Jingle. My mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly and I’ve been otherwise occupied…
Fieat of all – please accept my condolences on the loss of your mother-in-love. If she was anything like my own, you were blessed.
Love this poem, Peggy – so much fun. Reminds me of my own parents who dearly loved Spain and Portugal – spent the month of March each year in Spain or on the Isle of Madeira. I haven’t had the opportunity myself to visit, but perhaps some day!
My heart goes out to you and all your family. . .
My entry this week:
http://paulatohlinecalhoun1951.wordpress.com/2011/04/27/an-explanation/
love it! makes me want to go to Spain now!
I hope you do get the chance! Spain is wonderful!
Nice prose-like style and lovely descriptive recollections and memories
Thank you duns!
This is so… vividly descriptive.
Thanks Classic!
That was a lovely narrative. Glad you had a nice time in Spain. Your friends backyard looks so captivatingly beautiful.
Thank you Dreaming!
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I can feel it… The Spanish part of me feels so vibrant when I hear words of Spanish. Las palabras (the words) mia madre (my mother), and dos besos (two/double kisses) remind me so much of when I was a child amongst Cubans. ‘amo’ is missing the two L’s
but that’s okay. ^_^ Love the poem.
Like I said in the poem – my Spanish is sorely lacking
Thanks for stopping by!!
I so enjoyed this, very nicely done!
What a wonderful glimpse of another world! Thank-you!