tomayto, tomahto, figs

When I asked for a dozen figs,
You disappeared for two hours 
And then came back with a bag 
Of luscious tomatoes.
Grandma and I laughed heartily. 
We laughed so much 
About those delicious tomatoes 
We couldn’t breathe properly. 

I played with porcelain ducklings 
And when I broke a piece, 
You handed me Turkish tea
Because everything in this world 
Can be fixed. 

When I asked for a dozen figs 
And you came back with tomatoes instead, 
You went back out again 
To bring us those juicy figs.
Yes, dementia is a cruel thing. 

I heard dad’s voice on the other line. 
He sounded so heartbroken 
That I suddenly remembered 
What I believed to have long forgotten. 
I remembered the day 
We once laughed heartily 
About nonsense like fruits and vegetables. 
And now we are already talking about your funeral?!

Even though you might be gone soon, it gives me hope 
That you won’t have to endure any more pain. 
It gives me hope that the minute you leave,
Someone else will be born into this world.
Someone who will teach his grandchildren 
a dozen things
And bring them tomatoes and figs.

                                          © Elena Natroshvili

                                            IG: 16minutepoetry