My mother, Thea ,was named after a rose;
an apt choice seeing the stunning woman she grew up to be.
Besides beauty she had brains
and was gifted with a strong artistic vein.

She painted and sculptured in later life
but dance was her first passion since she was a child.

Her bright red flamenco shoes
and her silver, Indian ankle bells
hang now on my stairway wall
as precious gems.

My mother was convinced that
in previous lives, a dancer she surly had been
for all the intricate movements of both disciplines
she already knew by heart, from within.

The fiery flamencos as well as the dazzling blue sari performances
with lots of eye, finger, hand and head gestures
mesmerised crowds and till this day that makes me very proud.