PLAYING A MOTHER




Oh no! Not again...
I do not want to play a mother again!
Two symbols of new life 
Developing inside
Two small pebbly  white eggs
The mother pigeon laid overnight,
In the pot of my dearest
Money plant, 
That will now go waterless,
Will wilt and dry
Because the new mother in me
Will not harm the two new developing embryos,
Mommy pigeon will just sit on them
To provide the temperature for them to hatch
And I have to play their mother
Checking that no harm is done to them,
See that the crows do not peck at them,
The monkeys do not break them,
My house help does not throw them 
With the garbage.



When the eggs hatch
The fledglings will be my children too,
I will check on them, from time to time,
See that the sun is not too harsh on them,
If it is, then hang a piece of cloth
To prevent the rays,
In case it rains again with plastic sheets 
Sticks and all, erect a shed to save them 
From the lashing showers,
Even providing the Mommy with food and water 
So she does not fly around
And sits with her chicks, provide them warmth.



Slowly the chicks will open their eyes,
My ears will train and strain to hear their sound,
If they stop, I will run out
Seeing them safe, I will thank God,
Keep bowls of cooked grains,
Mashed fruits and oats
So Mommy can feed the babies well,
And they grow up as healthy ones
Not look impoverished 
Or malnourished,
Then will come the stage when they will jump
And hop, wanting to come out,
Making my breath fall short;
They will be coaxed to fly out next,
Forced and coerced,
They will hesitate, I will palpitate, scared
That they do not fail,
Fall down, get hurt,
But they will take their flight,
Fly out, leaving me with an 'empty nest syndrome' again!

©Madhumita