A poem to my child...

If parenthood is tough, then bringing up a child alone is even tougher. My best friend of more than a decade is one such Mom, and a super mom at that! Another friend Anu, brings up her child alone as her dad works in Muscat. I drew inspiration from them to write this poem; A poem from a single parent to her child. Shalu and Ishna; this one's for you, and for every parent out there who's doing two jobs alone....

I held you close when I was broken.
You came and wiped away my tears often.
Now you’re all grown up to face the world.
And I wonder what you think of me.

Do you wonder why I brought you up alone?
Do you wonder if I made the right choice?
Do you blame me for life’s difficult moments?
Do you understand why I chose to move on?

I know the questions which came in your mind,
You didn’t ask them for they would make me cry.
I knew you cried when I wasn’t looking.
But in front of me didn’t let out a sigh.

You grew much faster for your age,
Did I forget often that you were just a child?
Was I harsh with you so many times?
Did I fail you when I couldn’t handle my rage?

Did you feel the love that I had for you?
Did you know you were the reason for me walking strong?
Did you know that in moments of despair,
You were to me a breath of fresh air!

I tried to be both Dad and Mom.
Sometimes, I forgot to be both.
Yet, you reminded me always of who I was.
To keep fighting without a pause.

I want to see the world through your eyes now.
I want to know if there was anything I did right?
Most of all, I want to ask you;
Do you still love me despite all my faults?