Forgotten Gratitude. Poem by Bernedita Rosinha Pinto

When gratitude forgets its duty
the hearts of others weep silently,
though she was not your mother
she gave you food,
though he was not your father
he carried you, comforted you,
both nourished you, nurtured you,
because you were the children
who had lost a mother
and there was no one
to wipe away your tears.
They saw that you were fed
and tucked away in bed,
while your grieving father
lived in denial
to overcome his pains.
And though, they had children of their own,
along with them they reared you,
over the years they never failed
to care for you, to comfort you,
they made you live, laugh and love life
that now when you are married
you forgot the help they rendered
when you were that helpless child
as when you cried,
they held you in their lap,
and hugged you like their own;
and as no one else showed responsibility,
or compassion to tend to you
they gave you the support you needed.
Yet, where lies the gratitude in you today
as they had held your little hands
and helped you walk thro' life's doors
from baby days to childhood and teens;
all is forgotten by you like a bad dream.
Now, while you are involved
in the upbringing of your own children,
you will know of your efforts,
your difficulties, your worries
as you see them growing,
you will expect attention from them
when they are man and woman
and as you are graying.
But did you ever reciprocate
the dedication of those two people
who provided for you
when they were not your parents,
that they brought you up
without repulse……
and as you grew up and walked away
ungratefully from them,
silently their hearts wept
choking with disbelief.