An Aspired Mother Poem by Jayatissa K. Liyanage

In the hour red sun had a day’s end cooling dip
Purple sky witnessed from above, the events on ground
While, breathless he laid on the rock, motionless
Brook, used to swabbing his feet, flowed down kissing the face

We kids were locked in, not knowing what’s happening
Bottle lamp on wattle, amidst owl cry, kept company from within
She, with cluttered mind, yet courageous, ran up and down
Through the thick night, carrying hand held fire torches

Slayers, knowing blood is thicker than water, yet in rage
Taking refuge fledged in to thicket, night blanket wrapped
A family lost the bred winner, for their greed on land
Destitute, within an envying clique, she got entangled

Indistinctly flickering was a burial scene, in the back of mind
And shutting down the dwelling’s planked door, for good
Mother with a cloth bag filled hopes tucked in, on her head
With all assets on shoulders, at dawn, stealthily, out she stepped

She was to cross the boarder over the range through the wood
Did once before, she reminisces, with her groom, years back
She probably knew where her tomorrow’s hopes were to root
And what she intended doing, to get her seedlings thriving

Her heavy hearted bachelor bro, away in her native village
Bearing swollen breasts for kids, felt the plight she was in
Willingly let us squeeze in to his abode, in benevolence
With fruits, nuts, yams filled garden big enough to run about

Remember going to village school, with her, bear footed
Taking a few mouthfuls of an edible stuff, for breakfast
Sun ‘n moon as usual, rose to daily routine regardless
We too grew up amongst the rest in village, nevertheless

Orphans we were on demand, I heard, to be fostered in town
She would never yield, nor stop our schooling, for any crown
Her own kin even challenged her motive, to her repugnance
More enthused was she, nonetheless, never stepped down

Many a full moons watched from above, while we hop-scotched
As every memory on the other side of range, were time stolen
On campus vacation, chose to work on crown land ever owned
And built the wattle castle, for our family to live in, in self-esteem

At different plateaus we reached, were, aptly positioned zeniths
Being accomplished and satisfied, showered on her face were smiles
Lacking credentials was never an impediment to her cruise
Hopes and determination kept her going till aspirations fulfilled