A Heartfelt Note Poem by Jaishree Nair

To a daughter who was never merely a daughter-in-law,
But the daughter my heart chose and cherished.

To the one I longed to share my deepest thoughts,
Hoped you would become my soulmate, my confidante, and my partner in crime.

I wished you would listen without judgment,
Never twisting my words of love and concern,
Never allowing prejudice or misunderstanding
To cloud the bond I dreamed we would share.

I wanted you to accept me with kindness,
Realise my care was unconditional
And make me feel not only wanted
But truly understood.

I often envied the tete a tete you shared with your mother,
Quietly wishing that one day
You would speak to me with the same frequency and ease.

Not every wish is destined to come true,
Yet every unfulfilled wish
leaves behind a trace of hope.

So many times I longed to hold you close,
But the fear of how you might respond
Often held me back.

Yet know this
You are, and always will be,
My daughter in every way that truly matters.