To mom ... with love

Deep in an envelope cocooned I lay

Nestled in the womb all warm and wet

Little did I know it was you, bearing me

Despite all warnings you fought to keep me alive

With each moment risking yourself, for me giving it all

I risked your very being but all you did was pray

Even when your life for my survival you had bet

You bore the pain in silence till the hours wee

Then took me in your arms and taught me to survive

Smiling through the tears you took home your baby doll

In your children you were wrapped up every single day

Your whole life revolving around ours you had always set

Every cut every cry, omnipresent you would somehow see

Yours was a job round the clock, not a mere nine to five

In the comfort of your embrace you could heal any fall

Holding our hands, always there, you never let us stray

Before we even asked, our every wish you have met

You taught us the alphabets and numbers one two and three

Then guiding us along into the unknown world you helped us dive

We grew and learnt but to you we were still your babies small

With uncertain stumbling steps we trudged along the way

Left you behind as we discovered the world and found things to covet

Thought we were grown up and smart and sought to be free

Turning into rebellious teenagers we made you shout and strive

But you were always there when hurt and heartbroken we would bawl

As we matured, over time blossomed a friendship that couldn’t sway

Fights turned to confessions; you became my soul mate, my safety net

From arguments to discussions we had somehow now started to agree

With my hand firmly in yours I dealt with every bump along the drive

It all felt so perfect and safe that I wished for time to slow down to a crawl

And then so suddenly and painfully it all ended and you were taken away

Leaving us bereft and shattered, consumed with pain and regret

Lost and in unbearable anguish I now feel hollow and empty

Stability and strength in you that I had seen I now need to derive

Emulate how when faced with adversity you had forever stood tall

I know you are still in everything around me and can hear me say

That who I am today is because of your upbringing and sweat

You nurtured and groomed me from a seed into this strong tree

Without your love, guidance and care I could never have learnt to thrive

Your beauty grace and wit has inspired me and still never fails to enthrall

I make this promise to you to never let you down or go astray

For all that you have done dear mother; I shall forever be in debt

Higher even than thee, in my eyes, you shall eternally be

I wish there was some way that you I could revive

And somehow you would always be at the distance of a call

To you with all the love in my heart homage I shall forever pay

And hope that for you the best in the afterlife is to come yet

That the place you are in now should be a source of envy

In the land of eternal peace and bliss you shall arrive

Where no pain or tragedy on you can ever befall