My Mother's Supreme Tenet

Why she loves me so much

I don't know;

I know also many of my friends

Who are neither very intelligent,

Nor very polite and well-behaved

But are still dearly loved by their mothers;

Once I asked this question to my mother,

And in reply, she pointed to a bird-nest

Atop the electric post in front of my study,

And asked me why a tiny bird

Was busy day and night

Feeding her chicks in the nest.

"What does the bird expect

In return for her hard work?"

And then she said, "Nothing."

I understood the meaning,

I understood the significance

Of a mother in her children's life;

I understood her supreme tenet.