Ma

She stood at the doorstep,

She fixed my tie,

She tied the buckle

As I cried.

“I don’t want to go mamma”

I moaned on and on,

She smiled at me

And to my bus stop, she walked along.

The horn blew, the brakes screeched

I pleaded not to go

I gripped her hand tight

And so she stepped in too and sat beside.

I walked into the class and pearls rolled down,

She could stay no more.

She sat out and when I looked about,

A reassuring smile she wore.

I peeped outside all day,

Fearing she left, if she may

But she sat there with no regret,

Still assuring me, there’s nothing to fret.

I don’t remember how long she’s passed her days like this,

And waited till the day I stopped peeping

Sat outside with the same smile

Till I stopped weeping.

Today, I am old, strong and bold

But she shelters me like a kid

And when I moan, sulk or groan,

She smiles again like she did.

I wonder how long she can still come

To all the places that I fuss to go,

How long will she comfort me

When I feel so numb and low?

When she sleeps beside me at night,

And on the bed we lay,

I still clutch her hand tight

Fearing she leaves, if she may.