Today, in gratitude for making it to Day 20, our (optional) prompt asks you to write a poem about a handmade or homemade gift that you have received. It could be a friendship bracelet made for you by a grade-school classmate, an itchy sweater from your Aunt Louisa, a plateful of cinnamon toast from your grandmother, a mix-tape from an old girlfriend. And whatever gift you choose, we wish you happy writing!

I wrote this poem as a tribute to a friend who I met last year after more than three decades.

The Gift

Eighteen green stones

One for every two years’ gone

Embedded in a cast of gold

Strung together in an unbreakable bond

Built on sweet mango pickle, Toblerone

And dwindling memories of life at eleven

I wear our friendship around my neck

Past salvaged by your patience and time

I trace my fingers on each lemony drop

That gently rests on my chest and falls below my collarbone

And I see a celebration of who you’ve become

From a pig-tailed girl to a woman, who found passion in creation

P.S. You could’ve given me anything

but you chose to give me this:

a gift made by you-unique and exclusive

Especially for me

And I see you haven’t changed- you’re just the same

Beautiful, sensitive and creative

And the memories flood back of lamington cakes, tamarind trees and the year five dormitory.

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Our poetry resource for today is Commonplace, a podcast that features “conversations with poets (and other people.”)