Passed were the Nine decades
And four more years later
Numerous memories woven together
Mother lays on her bed
How much our lives have changed
And yet you, my mom, are my love
in wakefulness and in dreams
Frailty gives away moans
Though you wished it not
A child in old age to your adult child
Your stubbornness makes me impatient at times
A child so bashful at scoldings
Feeding meals, washing her, kissing her to sleep
While lovingly hugging her,
I lay beside her and am thankful
For this chance that she gave me
To know her as the vulnerable child
Her inner child now exposed
Nothing else she would want than this comforting presence
You, my beloved mother, suckled me in my infancy
Washed me cupping water from a bucket
braided my hair and applied kajol in eyes
While I did not even understand the love you had for me
Unconditional was your love for me
While I lay beside you
I am comforted to be your comfort
For the time being
caring for elderly; Mother; second childhood