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My mother embraces me when I least expect it,
and pushes me offthe edge of the cliff
when I need it the most.
When I try to run away from her,
she extends her sturdy arms
and clasps me like an eagle,
not to tear my freshly grown wings apart
but
to remind me,
to whisper in my ear,
that no matter where I go, she will be
here
standing strong,
spirit high,
in the middle of the sea
waiting for me,
to return to her.
My mother will make me food
and shine bright on my face to nourish my skin,
to nurture my big brown freckles,
to put a smile on my face.
She will give food to flowers,
my grandma’s favourite roses,
to bring a sense of joy,
to accommodate my sisters’ souls,
to watch my tears of joy roll down my big cheeks
as I smile the biggest smile of all.
I stretch my spine,
make it tall
stand proudly as I exhale my
/t͡ʃ/, /ʃ/, /t͡s/
sounds whose cherished roots
have been holding me attached
to mylittle portion of earth
which raised me with such caution and grace
She brought up my best friend
Shefermented people
to come, to go, to stay for a while,
to promise to stay forever, to stay forever or
to disappear and never be found again.
She sowed seeds of friendships
and watched them grow,
she watered young lovers holding hands
and watched their stems grow long
flowers growing from their heads;
the voice of a newborn baby
being heard loud and clear.
Her body has suffered immensely;
bruises all over her skin,
her long legs scratched and her arms dusty.
She can welcome you, console you, and love you
in a myriad of languages
She sees you and she hears you
as you lie awake, late at night
tears running down your pink cheeks
She sees you and she hears you
as you sit around a table with your friends,
postponing the sunrise just a bit longer
for you to have a few more moments
of this youth that is running low
In the morning, the sun shines brighter
the birds chirp louder
and the wind blows lighter on your skin
for you and her children.
She shines the sun brighter for all the people she raised
For her children
Even for those that hurt you,
For your best friend,
your lovers, your former lovers and your crushes,
your neighbour that sleeps in an empty bed at night,
that one person you can’t stand but can’t live without,
the deceased and the diseased.
For hundreds of her kids that you haven’t found yet
And perhaps for you too
You, which you have yet to find
Words and artwork by Aria Aristotelous