Salik Shah

Mother, it's all gone -
the colour of your hair
has turned ashen,
and I've grown to be
a shadow of the man
you hate so much.

The man keeps fighting
obscure devils of his own.
So his wounds never heal,
No matter how much
we endure.

Mother, I've this simple desire
To talk to you and show you my world
The world that you opened up for me—
And to which you belong.

December 5,2011