Renaissance

By Smruti Sharma

Every time I look in the mirror

I see your honey brown eyes

But they lack your happy love

And they lack your tearful pride

I keep my achievements lined up on the wall

The way they made you glow with joy

My room lies now organised and clean

Better than what you’ve ever seen

The burnt rotis on the stove

The drooping plants on the alcove

Us smiling together in photo frames

The Horror movies, our midnight games

All the times that I was sick

I should have said, come sleep by me

Heal me with your magical touch

I was selfish, I let things be

And now the walls are closing up on me

I pushed you away a little too much

You know what I wish for most?

Please come back home, mom

Every time I look in the mirror

They haunt me, your honey brown eyes

All they now have is regret and guilt

They hate even the sight of me

How do I tell you I’m scared of ghosts

I’m your little girl, at twenty four

If I’d known how things would be

I’d call you more, I miss you so

They say time heals everything

But how do I try and convince him?

You were the one dad talked to most

You know how much, without you, we’re lost

What is worse, we weren’t there

There’s no one the covid spared

We come back home to empty halls

They are difficult, even small talks

Our forever ended a little too soon

Being your daughter is a boon

You know what I wish for most?

Please come back home, mom

Every time I look in the mirror

I appreciate your honey brown eyes

I'll build the life you dreamed for me

Your youthful laugh guides us all

Cause that is what you taught us all

Swimming through storms, no matter what

When I ran from the dark, you were there

I found my answers in your embrace

I'll carry you around in my heart

This way no one can tear us apart

It's no easy task, building a legacy

And yet you exceled at everything

And I believe that soon one day

You'll come back home, mom

By Smruti Sharma