Mother

There, across the timeless space

She stood on her own,

Behind a veiled door.

Her eyes, tired

And her face, creased

With worry lines.

Her fingernails, dirty

And her arms had burnt marks

That failed to fade.

She had that forlorn look

That could find no reason,

And her soiled clothes

Though still neatly pressed.

Were drenched in sweat.

Across that flimsy veil,

She seemed miserable,

Ever so.

I wondered if I ought to go

Past the seamless space

And save her soul.

I had no armor, no shield

Yet, I knew I had to-

So delved headlong,

Across the silken barrier

To find her.

Looked around, but in vain.

I found her not.

Maybe too late, I hope not,

I whispered to myself,

With trembling syllables.

Just before I waded back

To the other end of living-

I saw her face.

Her eyes seemed tired,

Yet they twinkled

In joy, that caught my breath

To summersault.

Those crease lines aged her

ever so gracefully,

And never in ceaseless worry.

Her burnt skin smelled of milk

and butter,

Her finger nails were dipped

In colors of life.

I saw her peek a glimpse

Every half of a second

Into the dim-lit room

Right across the table.

I found her smile,

As though nothing could have

Been better, ever.

I walked in

To find out her secret joy-

For, in my eyes,

Nothing she had, could make

Me smile her smile.

And then I saw-

Across the timeless backdrop

A cherubic face, that shone.

Toothless, a smile

Broke away-

And my heart skipped a beat.

I turned back to her-

And I found her bask

In the aura of motherhood.

Humbled,

I drifted back to my world,

Wordlessly.

There was nothing I could say

Or be-

For she was everything -

She was a mother.

- (C) Sashu

09 May 2010