Grandmother’s Rosellas.

Passing Down Family Traditions to Grandchildren.

Mr Rosella. Flowering and Getting Ready for Making Syrup. Just like my Grandmother’s. Pictures by John Rose.

Sitting with grandkids
sipping mineral water
grandkids guzzling cordial
red for raspberry,
Remember another time
pouring raspberry cordial
my kids around table,
Memory flashed,
Long ago
small boy sat
grandmother prepared
rosella cordial.

Grandmother made
syrup using
grandfather’s rosellas,
Remember her
preparing cordial
delicious drink,
Thought to give
grandchildren treat
while telling
grandmother’s story,
Passing down,
family traditions
grandfather’s task.

One thing
telling story,
Quite another
growing rosella and
making syrup,
Impulsive decision
made worse by
telling son and
raising expectations!