Seattle Blossoms Poem by Seema Jayaraman

As I spring from the community transit
Warm smiles and morning wishes echoing
A deep breath and the view unfolding,
Of winding roads and far off buildings
On a rainy and cold late winters day.

Feel my heart swell
Where sunshine plays hide and seek with wet days
I revel this morning, for Iam a girl
And I skip in the rain
There is the promise of the sun yet to come
An important meeting and a presentation.

Feel life surge, my feet springing on asphalt paths
Hiding in my hood from the gentle shower
Stepping over puddles in my high heel shoes
Walking tall, business suit and confidence for makeup
On my way to work lugging heavy laptop and notes

I pause and ponder, the miracle of cherry blossoms budding
Bravely on winter withered bare trees, a promise of pink
On a study of brown, million needles pointed skywards
Turning velvet, soaking in the rain, unfurling a live feed
The wink of an eye and my world is a million shade of pink

At my feet, these unnamed flowers threatening the rain
On long slender upturned brown limbs
With their upturned young buds ready to burst,
Chorus of cheer, yellow sunshine
The far off mountains as though in a painting

The budding trees, awakening earth and me
The promise of a magic about to begin
Layers and layers of soft light cascading, curtains
Tingling air, trailing nights cool melting
As I cross over the silently surging Brook

On my way to office, the meetings in calendar
For leading management gurus and technical teams
Complex theories on presentation boards
Wine and dine, important luncheons, strategy and budgets
To lead a million dollar projects

And yet these verses at the start of a working day
Remembering my origins in a far off land
Drawing kolams on my Grandma's verandah
Her toothless smile and me clad in a saree on my knees
Sharing the heart of this stubborn impy girl, who left your shores

Urgent war room sessions, hurriedly arranged in office lady's room
The one who called on ISD calls with rebellious tones and weepy voice
Continuing with the promise of a tomorrow and love to come
Burgeoning loss of the familiar, a new rainbow yet to appear
Laid bare, turmoil, my thoughts of you, life and nature