She's Breathing

By Ravi Ranganathan

Yes, his mother died  long ago

When he was a  young Boy of ten

She was bed ridden for many a month 

Was fragile and thin like a weak rope

He heard relatives telling ‘no hope’.

He used to sit beside for hours on end

Watch her without batting an eye lid

Would see her lying down motionless

And would  ask his father, Appa , Appa

Tell me ‘How do I Know that she is alive’?

Father would reply with a very patient look

‘Keep your palm in front of  her gentle face 

You can feel her ‘Breathing’! Feel the Breath!

So long as she breathes, she’s alive’

The innocent lad kept trying this  frequently

He was so relieved that he could feel her breath.

‘Appa, if I can capture her breath in my palms

And swallow it, will she not be alive always

Was his innocent query: ‘Of course you can’

His father replied to avoid further on this.

The boy dutifully captured his mother’s breath!

 ~                    ~               ~

The boy is now a grown up man, duly married

With two children of ages eight and ten

Yet, he reaffirms with all innocence and belief

That his mother is alive; ‘she’s breathing’!

And when left all alone, he would touch his heart

And whisper to himself, ‘Sorry Amma, you are here

I need your precious breath to stay alive’…

By Ravi Ranganathan