Keukenhof, Among the Tulips (2015)

 

May 24, 2015

Happy birthday, Mama!

We journeyed to where colors bloom like songs,

rows of tulips stretching wide and long.

It was your birthday, and tulips, your favorite,

so we decided to give the day a little magic.

The air was soft, the sky a gentle blue,

and every tulip felt like it was waiting for you.

Pink, yellow, red, they swayed in the sun,

a living birthday card, beautifully laid.

You smiled, and the whole garden seemed to glow,

as if the flowers had been waiting just to say hello.

Keukenhof whispered, gentle and clear,

“Happy birthday to the heart I hold dear.”

In every tulip, I saw your grace.

In every breeze, I found your embrace.

That day, among fields of your favorite flowers,

we weren’t just visitors

we were part of that spring in 2015.

From Delft, we set out early in the morning, catching the train to Leiden. The station was lively but calm, that typical springtime buzz when everyone seems to have somewhere special to go. On the train, I sat by the window, watching the Dutch countryside roll by. There was a quiet excitement between us, this wasn’t just any trip; it was her birthday, and we were going to see her favorite flowers in full bloom.

When we arrived in Leiden, the transition was smooth. Just outside the station, buses to Keukenhof were already lined up, ready to take visitors to the gardens. The signs were clear, and the flow of people made it easy to follow. We joined a cheerful crowd of families, couples, and travelers from around the world. There was laughter, chatter in different languages, and that shared sense of anticipation that happens when everyone is heading to the same magical place.

The bus ride itself was short but beautiful. As we left the city behind, the scenery changed. Small villages passed by, windmills appeared in the distance, and the fields started to transform, patches of bright color began to streak the landscape. Red, yellow, pink, and purple ribbons of tulips stretched as far as we could see. I glanced at you and saw that soft smile you always have when you see flowers; it was like watching a memory unfold.

And then, Keukenhof came into view. Even from the bus, it looked breathtaking, a grand entrance framed by trees and flowerbeds, with bursts of color spilling out in every direction. It wasn’t just a garden; it felt like stepping into a living painting. For a moment, we both sat quietly, taking it in. This was the place that only opens its doors to spring, and we had arrived on the perfect day.