Mother

Anushka Sisodia

She stands with her majestic head in the skies
and she swims effortlessly
in the ageless oceans,
timeless and evergreen;
unparalleled is her beauty
and her strength unmatched.

Our goddess, our home
our hands are pulling her apart,
and like a mother laden with the duty of love
she cradles her children close to her,
reluctant to show them her pain
but she does not know if she can stretch herself
anymore, don’t you see?

Because the pain is agonising
And she prays that the fatigue
would disappear from her body,
but when she lies down,
her sleep is not peaceful and
there are shadows that haunt her
of times to come, of demons
lurking around the corner.
She fears this story will turn bitter…

so be kind to her;
because her throbbing head and aching arms
cannot hold the load much longer and
and when we are beyond our ability
to stop her from breaking,
there will be no sound as sorry as her cries,
and no sight as terrible as the tears
spilling down her perfect face.
When her heart is shattered and
her body beyond repair,
then we will remorse
and then we will mourn,
our precious mother,
our precious home.

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On ‘Mother’

This poem seeks to reflect on the relationship between earth and humankind and provoke a sense of grief for ‘Mother Nature’, emphasising the need to connect with, protect and cherish our planet.

This poem was first published as part of LSESU Amnesty International Society’s annual human rights journal ‘A Climate of Change’.

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