Spoonful of Rice

(This is a universal story of mother’s sacrifice for their children, be it material, emotional, or intellectual.) It was during the Korean War Father was taken away by the Communists Months ago He never returned Mother and I were left alone In an island as refugees Without anyone supporting us One day Mother brought a cup of rice For me to eat Only three spoonful In the cup I gobbled it up Without much thought Feeling still hungry Mother took the cup in the kitchen Closed the door Through a crack I saw Mother scraping Scraping the bottom of the cup For a few grains left She licked the spoon over and over How long has she been hungry To feed me? I froze Really froze I quietly left the room To a beach nearby Looking at the horizon Where ocean met the sky Far far away Wanting to swim Toward it Until my strength Sapped to nil So that Mother didn't have to Feed another mouth Then a question surfaced Will she be happy without me So she can feed herself? No way Was my answer She has already lost Many of her loved ones Without me She will not go on living I stood With my heart filled with Opposing forces Resumed my walk Toward Mother