A Tender Moment From Childhood

A loving beautiful mother, A responsibly caring father, A bit moody, yet, affectionate sister, And me the Very Important member; All I can imagine is a beautiful tree, Our home was just like a nest on it. We were like sparrows carefree, happy, Praying, playing, sharing, caring… ====== ==== It was then the terrible tempest blew. As though just to destroy our nest! ‘Cardiac arrest’, they said. My mother died on the way to the hospital. I was three and unaware of many events. Except the wailing and weeping; All I could remember most is - That scene of my father holding me, And showing my mother in the tomb, Shedding streams of tears and telling me: ‘This is your mother. See here for the last time. ====== ==== Ours is a nuclear family, My father had now dual responsibility. Uncles and aunts convinced him, And almost haunted him to remarry… “I will not”, he said, “I will live for my kids, Joys or pains – I will share with them every bit.” These words he kept up Till the end of his death His highest moment of contemplation, Was just lying on my mother’s tomb… Thus crying and wailing and weeping When I was just eight he went away too. ====== ==== Though I feel I have cried enough, For my father’s death later; And my tears are now amply dried, Thinking of and thanking his love and care; Though time has cured much of my wounds, The scene of my paternal uncle, Shedding streams of tears and telling me: ‘This is your father. See him for the last time. ====== ==== Tears Brim-fill my eyes even today… 09 June 2021 A Tender Moment From Childhood Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Malabika Ray Choudhury