Memories of a mother’s first words
A child gets the drift, understands little
Laughs at the silly faces she makes
Wears her love in his sparkling eyes
Childhoods hidden in unwritten poems
Schoolchildren soaked in blackberry rains
Pointless joyful runs in open wide fields
Tired sunshine body, unwilling to rest
Visiting happy relatives in small towns
Improper dances to wedding folk songs
Mango-drippy afternoons, soaked in glee
Midnight raids on cans of sweetmeats
Evenings of dad’s office stories, snacks
Siblings squabble to sleep next to mom
Listening to her old, forgotten melodies
Her loving fingers move through our hair
Pot-holed roads to grandma’s house
A piping hot dinner of her secret recipes
Her stories of gods and mythical beings
The widening creases of our smile
Early years, of a distant past
I wonder if I know anyone there, anymore
Memories fade and look like dreams
Many tales depart untold
Faint footfalls of our weary soul
Everything changes, except mum’s smile
Her love clings to our sleepy eyes
A bridge between this lifetime and next
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