From A Daughter To Her Mother

Mother!

I was sitting on the patio,

Humming the lullaby you sang to me,

When I was three,

Chopping onions that had always made me cry,

Reminiscing how you would rub off the tears,

When my husband stopped by.

He stopped midway,

Glazing at me,

His eyes held kindness supreme,

Lending me the handkerchief,

I had embroidered for him,

With the art, you passed on to me,

I smiled briefly.

What's that,

How it makes you cry, dear?

Is there something,

Bothering you or is it a derivative of fear?

Nothing I assure him,

When he holds my hand,

Lands a kiss sweetly on my forehead.

What's it that you like in them so much?

The abandoned you,

When you needed them without a hunch.

Tears rolled down and his kisses stop by,

To ease up the pain,

Sorrows brought by.

Darling!

My lover,

We are but what the time makes us,

Most times a taker,

Other times a giver,

Sometimes a sufferer.

Though I guarantee they had flawed deeds.

It's the way they used to wipe my eyes,

That I cry more,

When they tried to be a reason for my miseries,

They knew where it hurts more,

Time made them betrayers.

Greed is their choice,

Forgiveness is mine.

And I hope perhaps,

They will embrace me too alike,

Just when the times used to be sublime.

Mother, my mother!

You told me heaven welcomes those,

Who forgive and forget,

After all these years shall we go back?

To the summer morning when my lover asked for my hand,

And you refused,

Knowing it would make me sad,

Will, you let him take me willfully,

Oh! Please do!

For once, I wish I could heal the scars,

My aunts and uncles had given you in my name,

You told numerous times,

That to love is not a shame!

Mother, I told you my secrets,

My gallant lover's name,

Don't let me choose between,

The love I had,

And the love I caressed,

I regret already that all's that between us,

Is a funeral, tears, and you smiling through the frame.

God, my savior,

Ease up the pain,

Tell her,

The lady who cooked me meals,

Whose blood runs in my veins,

That I never did what she forbid,

Loving him,

As much as she loved me,

I lost her,

In the battle so cruel,

Kiss her,

Will you?

And bless her soul,

When she enters your lair,

Tell her I have been a good girl,

Always, forever,

Just as she had taught me.

Let my tears recount the numerous times I have missed to tell,

How much have I loved her?

Her love taught me how to love,

I owe her every affection I nurture.

Mother,

I owe you forever,

For everything and nothing.

I cry,

Smiling at the frame.