Maithili -written by Ruhi

 Maithili 

-Ruhi

there are so many things you could do

and you gave all of them up to do motherhood 

you could be a creative director or an artist, a philosopher, an activist, a traveller, a thinker, a business owner, a relationships' therapist, or a children's therapist 

you could have done all that that made you, you

but instead you grabbed onto my wrist 

and told me stories with a twist

don't say "yes" when you don't understand 

ask questions when you hear something that doesn't sound fair or true

when they say "this doesn't look nice", ask "to who?"

so I asked why it's not okay for me to laugh loudly, or cry, or wear the shorts my brother wears all the time, why do girls leave their family for a man's, what is dowry, why is the woman's honour on line when she gets raped and not the perpetrator's, why don't men receive flowers, if women are bad drivers then why do insurance companies charge them less, how do emotions make men weak, who made religion and mumma some explanations are due

I read and learn and discuss and contest opinions with data

every once in a while I teach myself something new

when you say something baffling, I respectfully argue

you give your god damn heart, so I do too

if I don't lose my innocence despite being repeatedly duped, then I take after you

I notice even when it looks like I have no clue

"let those emotions out" so I do

you like helping people, let me join the crew

it's funny you think I'm the smart one when you are why I exist 

"publish the poems you write" you insist 

and call the book "magical mess" like you always wanted to

but, what if, maybe I am that book Mumma,

and me, Ma, I. am. written. by. you.

(All the good things I do,

I owe them to you)