My Mama 

The ground beneath me holds me steady 

Like my mama does, when she helps me get ready

The air fills my lungs, helping me breathe 

But sometimes my mama’s hugs are all I need 

There’s no one who knows me better 

On special days, I don’t know what to get her 

Because how can I possibly compete 

With all the love and care she’s given to me? 

The sun covers my skin with gentle heat 

As I lay on the carpet at my mama’s feet

The birds are singing beyond the window 

My mama’s veggie garden is starting to grow 

Born in Pakistan, the Land of the Pure 

Any problem I have, my mama can cure 

With her laugh as gentle as raindrops 

Her words as sweet as lollipops 

The food I eat, fresh from the stove 

My mama’s hands peeling garlic cloves

One day I hope to be a woman like her 

A woman I’ll admire forever. My mother.

My mother. My lover.