In Memory of my grandmother Clara, the wife of Vice Admiral of the Navy, Don Basil Goonasekara

She planted the seed in my mind at the tender age of sixteen It was all so clear at the time But I almost ignored the signs And as the years drifted by I observed how It consumed her… Mesmerized her…Took control of her entire being But I could never understand why Little did I know then That I too would possess this rare gift Which would change my entire perspective Forever…. but she would never know now As I stand by the stovetop Just like the million other times Listening to the soothing sounds of ingredients Swirl… Bubble… and Sizzle… Transforming themselves into resplendent patterns And using my home cook intuitions As I strive to prepare the wondrous recipes Inherited from her countless collection of the many yesterdays and yesterday’s yesterdays, I can almost feel the perfectionist’s piercing dark eyes Boring down into mine from her pedestal As I roll out the dough I can almost hear her voice say “Little girl, this legacy is yours now,”