Mother
By Cithara Patra
Endless ocean
separates me from you
waves roll over my feet
as my toes sink into the sand
Stuck on shore, I raise my gaze
towards a starless, cloudless sky
Mother, can you hear me?
I’m calling out your name
praying the sea carries my voice
and reaches your ears over the din
of noisy trees and chatting people
You’re living out there, living your life
It’s never to the fullest but you’re alive
while I’m waiting for you to rescue me
Mother, I need you
This island isn’t a home
for me to rest and spend my time
I long for warmth to push back
on the howling cool wind blowing against me
Please come for me
Find me
Where are you?
Embrace me, Mother
Send me your love
Tuck me in at night, calm me down
Tell me I won’t be alone any longer
As the sea leaves its foam on land,
I wait for a word, a whisper, a sign
You wish to hear from me too
Mother, I’m still waiting out here
I’ll linger in your mind
I’ll wait on the shore until the day
you cross this ocean and find me
with my feet buried in the sand
and my body drenched in salt water
Bio: Cithara Patra currently lives in NC. They’ve written for a few literary journals including Poetries in English, Instant Noodles, and 50 Word Stories. In their spare time, they travel, solve logic puzzles, and check out local restaurants.
