Mom and grand mom

Mom and grand mom

 

Bou!

To you

we all bow

for your benign show

that followed the traditional law

the respect to your mother in law.

On her return from the river

barefooted without slipper

after performing her daily chore

an usual practice none did abhor,

collecting in your cupped palm

the toe water of our grand mom

daily you drank as nectar divine

touching her feet with the bowed spine.

Water from her dust soaked toe

you took always with humility show..

without distracting her right

a deific lady short in height

Blessed stayed your relation

over health, hygiene that won.

never a hitch I had ever found

between you two, to sound.

Aids many were put for jobs on land

but cooking for all was at your hand

with only grandma’s support strong

in no occasion you proved wrong

to feed many with aids, guests and us

in rain, storm and festivals numerous

with fuelwood drenched wet

with torrential rain and wind threat

stoking and blowing on a bamboo stick

smoke from open Chula surrounding thick

on earthen pot sized big too

cooked for all then Mom, you

not for one or two days or a month or so

years after years you managed the show

Grandma was picking up from fences

Spinaches and vegetables for side dishes.

No need to depend on the market at the other bank.

“ Nature! Your bounty then to you we must thank..

Your pains and wails for days together

grandma pushing food and water

to a room combining you alone

the pain of motherhood to groan

then inscrutable to me, now I bow,

need I your feet dust to put on my brow.

 

 

P K Routray

in the service of Lord

 

 

( I lost my mother who was 92on 20b th May. I was born when she was nineteen. I have seen her toiling with all old cooking gadgets with her mother-in-law with mutual love and respect. The bondage I cherish forever. We call mom as Bou