Pearls - Memories Are Made Of Bliss

by Mahal Ko Kuya Ko   Dec 8, 2013


In the
orient seas,
memories are
the pearls.

My Father
studied oysters
for a
hundred days
in search
of pearls...
My Mother
always throws
the pearls
he has
gathered away
no matter
how rare
they are,
no matter
how lovely
they are.

The grasses
of newly born courage
growing beside
the river banks
don't know
the reason
why my Mother
cannot hear
the song
that my
Grandmother sings
by the river-
a song
that can
only be
understood by
a heart
that holds
genuinity and
responsibility.

I always
know that
life is
vividly colored.
Like the
orient seas,
I promised
the calm winds
to always
remember my
Grandmother's words:

"We will
always be
young like
the sea.
We must whisper
our wishes
to the stars
and our dreams
to the moon.
No matter
how many tears
we will cry
because of
the things
we can't change
and we
don't want
to forget,
we must
keep in
our minds
that memories
are made
of bliss."

My Grandmother
taught me
how to love
unconditionally,
how to love
like a man
who loves
his pot
of Orchids.

Someday,
my Mother
will also
make a promise
to the
calm winds.
She will
learn to treasure
the pearls
my Father
will work hard
to get.
And together,
we will
sing my
Grandmother's song.

In the
orient seas,
memories are
made of bliss.

3


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Latest Comments

  • 10 years ago

    by Jenni Marie

    Judging comment:

    The reason I love this poem so much is because of how pretty and unique it is. I don't recall ever having come across something like this before and that allows the poem to stay with me for a long time after reading it, even without keep coming back to it. (Although I admit I did, and fell more in love with it each time.)

    I found the structure of the poem appealing, it was almost like you had so many fragmented thoughts and feelings that you were in a rush to lay them all down before you forgot them, like you had so many that if you tried to rationalise them you'd lose focus and forget some of them, and I found this to work really well with this poem as the finished result was like you just had to say everything in mind, and although it appears fragmented it works wonders as it gives your readers a chance to share in your sense of urgency.

    I found the Grandmother's words to be the most moving part as they are full of such hope, inspiration and positivity, which creates such conflicting emotions for the reader given most of the poem is found to be bittersweet and melancholic.

    Very pretty.

  • 11 years ago

    by Everlasting

    Actually, this is one of my fav poems by you. It seems your mom( or the narrator's mother) doesn't treasure the hard work your dad put into collecting those pearls, it makes me wonder why? Perhaps, he didn't spend as much time with his family that he didn't make as many memories with them, than he spent by looking for those pearls. So in a way, I can see why the mom would feel the way she feels, but I can also feel the words of the Grandmother. So in a way, I like the story behind but I also like that this piece makes me think, I can actually make different interpretations until I arrive to an adequate one. And in a way, I could just ramble but in a few words, I like it.

  • 11 years ago

    by Beautiful Soul

    I can see this poem as a memory of a good time you had with your family. It seems to me you are very fond of your family here and I like the details you used. I love poems that are based off reality. Memories are made of bliss... I like this line because they truly are. No matter what we go through there are always good times we can remember. Great poem overall. :)