Memories of Deepavali

The glow of lamps as they pierce the dark,

The acrid smoke in the air,

The bustle at home at the crack of dawn,

As I oil and wash my hair,

The tingle of excitement at the swish of silk,

And the new clothes bought for the day,

The rumble in your stomach as your nose is a quiver,

By the aroma of delicacies that prevail,

They take me back to a time gone by,

As a young and innocent girl,

 I dreamed of the many things I would do,

And how I would change the world.

I would preen in my new clothes and giggle and laugh,

With my friends as we met on the streets,

As we carried closed platters to neighbours nearby,

To share in our home made treats.

The pop of crackers and the explosion of colour,

Was a magical treat to the eyes,

As we dreamed of the things the future would bring,

The wonder of the rest of our lives.

But life has been a different story,

And although so difficult it seems,

I look back and know that what life has brought me,

Is more magical than anything I dreamed.

The challenges made the achievements sweeter,

The troubles gave me a chance to grow,

And as I wake at dawn to those familiar memories,

I know I am not that little girl anymore.

And yet when the scent of jasmine tickles my nose,

I long to go back in time,

To a heart filled with dreams and a world of magic,

And be that little girl for a while.