POEM_: Dialogues with Mother: VII

Mother,

I always saw you

as Durga, as Kali. 

I never thought

that the real you

was a mere Savitri!

I thought you had the courage

to fight your

and all others’ demons.

But all that you have shown

is a great capacity

to not let go.

Why mother,

did you fool me so?

You, like so many of your sisters,

never went beyond

that Lakshman-rekha of your womanhood

to become a real person.

Just like so many of my brothers

who never graduate

from being men.

But why does this upset me so?

For if only,

you were a Durga

I could have fought you, fought you to the hilt.

Lost some,

but most certainly, won some.

But you never fought me fair.

By just holding on

to every little bit of my existence,

and wanting to make it yours,

you have left me nothing

of my life, to live!

Mother,

By wanting me to become

the man of your dreams,

you have disallowed your son

to be the only person

that he can be.

- owais

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This is first being published here.