Sarala writes this poem for her mother, a soulful verse, exclusively for Different Truths.

What else can I do 
Except to touch your feet.
In reverence 
How can I forget the songs?
You sang rocking me 
In your lap looking into 
My beady eyes, full of mischief.
How can I forget
How you helped me take 
My first step holding my 
Little fingers with love 
How can I forget you? 
You taught me the alphabets 
When I was just three 
How can I forget 
Your smiling face
When I fell while talking 
My first step and you 
Laughingly said, 
Don’t bother about your fall 
You will rise again 
Without falling you cannot 
Rise remember my words
When you grow up
You are my mother and 
My love to you will never 
Fade or dim 
If God gives me another birth 
I want you to be my 
Sweet mother, who loved 
Me always and throughout 
Let me lay in your lap 
For some more time 
As I may not get another 
Chance as you have grown 
Old and become fragile 
I can't think of the day 
You will leave me and go away, 
I will miss you mother dear
As you are my love and life
And will remain so forever
Not but the least 
Let me wipe your divine feet 
in obeisance of your pure 
and unconditional love 
you showered upon me 
Oh, mother dear, don't leave me! 
And go as this world is 
Full of rogues and I am
Scared of leaving you 
As now you are old with 
No strength to fight back 
Mother dear, be
With me today and every day
Oh, mamma how much I love you!  

Picture design by Anumita Roy, Different Truths

Sarala Balachandran

Sarala Balachandran was working with an import-export organisation in the administrative department for 38 years. She retired eleven years back. Married, with two sons aged 43 and 36, she took interest in writing recently. She writes free verses.