What am I
But a custodian?
You take root in me
My body nourishes yours
You grow
For nine months
I house you
Protect you
Nurture you
Then you emerge
An infant
Bawling
Suckling
Sleeping
I care for you
As a mother
An attendant
A guardian
A protector
A custodian
The time seems long
But really
It is short
Moments turning to minutes
Hours to days
Days to months
Months to years
Suddenly
You are grown
You have your own mind
Your own ideas
Your own thoughts
Your destiny is yours alone
I dare not question it
Or debate it
For who am I?
Just a mother
A guardian
An attendant
A protector
A custodian
I am of a different time
You tell me
Out of touch
Out of step
Out of line
I step back
Hurt
Confused
Pained
Startled
By your anger and resentment
Your words
Your eyes
Your actions
Blame me
And me alone
I am at fault
A mother who has failed
What am I, then?
If I am no longer your custodian?
You fly away
Far away
So far from me
I cannot reach you anymore
Not through words
Or actions
Or love
You are making your life
In a different land
With a different plan
Than the one
I had envisaged for you
But that is okay
As long as you are happy,
And if you are happy
That is all
I have ever wanted
For you
When you return
It is a surprise
A welcome one
Even if
you return with
Tears in your eyes
And a swollen belly
You are home
I am your mother
Someday soon
You
Will be a mother too
That is when
You will understand
That
You have to be
Everything I was
And more
For
What are we
But
Guardians and attendants
Protectors and custodians
For those
Who come after us
Forevermore…
THE END
