Before I Die............. Poem by lalitha iyer

I was born
to my mother at night
the poor thing woke all night
sleepless suffered in agony and plight

I sucked her too much
she grew pail and powerless
her calcium I suckled
her firm joints grew supple

I grew upon her energy
Parasite was I, licking her life and verdour
she slowly waned and waxed off
her beautiful youth gave away as I bloomed up

Before I die I offer my prayers
before the hand that made me stand
the breasts that fed my hunger
the tender globe that my aboard lingered

Before I die I kneel below
to wipe off the blood she shed
as I came out of her womb in dread
I offer my life to her who was the to me the world
and the world is nothing now I learn
but only the Zoomed Image of a mother's pain.

you travel over the whole world
and wealthy you be with friends dear
yet atlast you find that truth
that mother is the end and start of the search
she who gave you eyes and ears
and life and music of life bears
the secret of life in her compassionate tears............