Dream, mother, dream | Ira Roy

Mother – oh mother – come, sit by the fire
Leave the meal in the oven – we have hands
Sit on a chair – warm you heart – come, sit
Take a sip from this wine – close your eyes
Dream a dream without us – dream for you
Dream like a human – dream, mother, dream
Dream – dream how they do not want you to

‘Do not wake her up – go, play in the gardens
Work your legs to help yourself – let her sleep
Let her build memories she could never build’
Oh mother – dear mother – dream like a child
Fly like a bird whose wings are still attached
Fly away to tiny towns – and leave us behind
Go – leave – RUN! – make a life in your dreams!

‘Why is she asleep?’ – ‘Why do you think so?’
‘So what if she is a lady? A human she is too
Work? She works all day – so she sleeps now –
she breathes now – she dreams now – let her be
Make your plate yourself – we all have limbs
Do not call her for a stupid glass of milk either –
let her sleep – let her breathe – and let her dream’

Mother – how pretty you look when you smile –
What are you dreaming about? – I hope it is not us
I hope the smile is a gift from a passionate lover –
with whom you play – with whom you hem a life
I hope you find a life on that grass, mother – I hope –
I also hope you forget that life when you wake up –
for it might hit you like a cyclone – you might die

No, it is not morning yet – keep your eyes shut still
Do not wake up even if you hear the Sun’s scream –
be with the stars a little longer, mother – I beg you
Dream as many dreams – dream, mother, dream! –
before he sends you to an asylum – dream! Dream!
Oh – here he comes, mother – he comes to wake you!
‘Wake up!’ – oh, mother – here is the real world again

Ira is an aspiring poet, wishing to reach a wider audience through her transparent and authentic poetry. Having been a writer since thirteen years of age, she now aims to publish her own work to help people relate with the emotions she bares through her raw words.
Ira was born in New Delhi, India. She has completed her under-graduation in English literature from Ambedkar University, Delhi, and is now pursuing admission in the postgraduate program for English literature. Her hobbies include reading, writing, singing, watching TV shows, and sleeping.