Rajyalakshmi Jampala

Mike Cannonis a participant in Poetic Portraits, an intergenerational creative project to showcase the creative talent and diverse life experiences of different generations in Monash.

Rajyalakshmi Jampala is a voracious reader and loves visiting markets and school fetes to buy books.

An earlier passion for gardening has given way spending time with her 5 grandchildren. Catch ups with friends, watching movies and playing Wordle are her other interests. Though not fond of either, she is forced to do yoga and exercise owing to health issues.

An amateur writer, she writes short stories to entertain her family and friends. 

A Mother’s Day Card.

Dear Mummy,

I hope you were not expecting diamonds or opals

A Swarovski bracelet or silver anklets

A pure silk sari or a red Ferrari

A handbag from Guess or a Laura Ashley dress

Shoes from DFO or a designer watch from Costco

Jamie Oliver cookware or the latest design Corning Ware

Beautiful lingerie or stylish cutlery

Estee Lauder perfume or Prada shades in bloom

Manchester from Sheridan or furniture from Freedom

Expensive sleepwear or trendy sportswear

Holidays to India or Indonesia

I can’t walk, I can’t talk

I can’t leave the house I can’t cross the road

I can’t go to Myer I can’t shop at David Jones

I can’t go far because I don’t have a car

I can’t visit galleries or nurseries

For pictures or plants

I can’t read or write

I don’t have a credit card

Amazon and eBay are not for me

All I can give you is a rattle or a ball

My dummy or a doll

Or would you rather hear my first word

Or a stroke from the hand you made?

Welcome to the Thirties

You have mountains to climb and oceans to cross

The world is at your feet and the sky is the limit

You can feel the wind under your wings, smell the salt in the ocean air

You have places to travel, sights to see

Unusual cuisines to taste and you are by no means done yet

Not being content with being a software engineer, you wish to don many hats

And excel in photography, cookery, craft and creative writing

Unleash your spirit of adventure and indulge in bungee jumping and scuba diving

‘No, Mum, I do not want diamond earrings, can I have a Harley Davidson instead?’ you tease

You are no longer plagued by teenage angst or the cockiness of the twenties

Being settled in a job you love, surrounded by people you enjoy working with

You can take six months off work, change jobs or go overseas for a holiday at the drop of a hat

Conscious of the benefits of yoga, exercise and meditation, you have never felt fitter

You no longer worry about what people will think or strive to get people to like you

You are proud to be yourself, true to your ideals and goals

At 20 you may have wished to be as beautiful as A, as tall as B and as slim as C

Now you are happy to be yourself and proud of it

At 20 you may have wished to change the world

Now you derive satisfaction from changing yourself for the better

At 20 you may have wished to beat others and win the race

Now you are content to run the race at your pace

You have learnt and accepted that things do not always go your way, that life is not always fair

A missed promotion, a reduced bonus, lost opportunities and broken friendships, you have seen them all

You would not want to change places with anyone but live life marching to your own tune

When you were 20, I was astonished by your IQ,

Seeing you at 30, I am amazed at your EQ

Welcome to the thirties, enjoy the ride

Trust me, the best is yet to be