My Valentine Poem by Deva De Silva

I wake up with a usual pang of guilt
My sons are on screens and I overslept
Wait, what's that smell? Burnt honey?
Can someone turn down that clatter of pans?
It's past 9 a.m. and I am still buried in pillows
I bellow "Study or else! " in my morning breath
Kyle's to lose his Valentine's date at Dimitri's, I yelp
Ryan's to lose his laptop for a week, I squeal
Shuddering in goosebumps, I reach for warmth
There's not a warm limb under the covers. Come back!
Where's Sanath gone on a Sunday morn for heaven's sake?
I hear footsteps approaching me on the staircase
Blurred vision sharpen in my hazy eyes slowly
To find my Kyle's smiling face hovering above me
In each of his hands he carries a plate
One with warm honey
One with three heart-shaped pancakes
He leans over and kisses my face
"Happy Valentine's Day mom! " he says
A pang of guilt hits me again, harder
I am sorry for howling at you, my love
I get infinite hall pass for being your mom
He watches me swoop in, slurp, and savour
Every drop of honey with plump pancake pieces
I tell him to find his Valentine's gift in a green bag
Looking excited he swaggers towards the window
To where I've hidden the three gifts. Did he know?
He wears the sweatshirt and seems unimpressed
It's a powder blue long sleeved, zipped at the neck
He tilts his head to a side and stares in the mirror more
He pulls the zipper down and sleeves up to his elbows
"Now it looks good on me! " he declares with a grin
For the zillionth time I'm struck by his youthful splendour
You are gorgeous my son, and I made you somehow