MOTHER

When you came into the world, she held you in her arms
You thanked her by wailing like a fool

When you were one year old, she fed you and bathed you
You thanked her by crying all night along

When you were two years old, she taught you to walk
You thanked her by running away when she called

When you were three years old, she made all your meals with love
You thanked her by throwing your plate on the floor

When you were four years old, she gave you some crayons
You thanked her by colouring the walls of the house

When you were five years old, she walked you to school
You thanked her by screaming “I am not going”

When you were seven years old, she bought you toys
You thanked her by throwing it out of the house

When you were eight years old, she hanged you an ice cream
You thanked her by dropping it all over your lap

When you were nine years old, she paid for music lessons
You thanked her by never even bothering to practice

When you were eleven years old, she took you and your friends to movie
You thanked her by asking her to sit in different row

When you were twelve years old, she warned you not to watch certain T.V shows
You thanked her by waiting by waiting until she left the house


When you were thirteen years old, she suggested a haircut
You thanked her by telling that she had no taste

When you were fourteen years old, she paid month away for a summer camp
You thanked her by forgetting to write a single letter

When you were fifteen years old, she came home from work looking for hug
You thanked her by having your bedroom locked

When you were sixteen years old, she taught you how to drive a car
You thanked her by taking every chance you could

When you were seventeen years old, she was expecting an important call
You thanked her by being on the phone all the night

When you were eighteen years old, she cried at your high school graduation
You thanked her by staying out partying until dawn

When you were nineteen years old she paid for your college tuitions
You thanked her by running from tuition to see movie

When you were twenty years old, she drop you to the college
You thanked her by saying goodbye from the gate so that you don’t get embarrassed in front of your friends

When you were twenty five years old, she ask about your marriage
You thanked her by saying “its none of your business”

When you were thirty years old, she called to advise for the baby
You thanked her by saying you are busy

When you were forty years old, she felt ill and needed you
You thanked her by speaking about the burden parents become for their children

One day she quietly died and everything you never did came crushing down like thunder


SHAHID HUSSAIN