NO WORDS NEEDED

Did I see a frown on her face?

uncomfortable with garland placed

string of red roses, her favourite

or was it just my imagination?

Looked again, frown had deepened

replaced it with Jasmine instead

ivory white, freshly picked from garden

nostril assailed by it's sharp fragrance

How was I to know the roses had thorns

flower seller had forgotten to pluck off

like acupuncture needles pricking her neck

is that why she looked so distressed?

Calm and serene appeared again 

staring out of the gold edged frame

just the way she looked that day

pall bearers arrived to take her away

Under quilt of Jasmine she laid

rosary wrapped around hands folded

Jasmine had bloomed in abundance 

showed up as mark of condolence

Continue to communicate like friends

perceptive to any change