The Hand that Rocks the Cradle- Saema Zaidi

I tried to look inside my pocket mirror

But the newly developed cracks interfered

Dividing me into pieces

And I saw parts of me holding secrets

Most of them were taken by scars

The rest had dust and scarcely had stars

I delved deeper into the mirror

As all the pieces played their part

I was once a little girl, with dreams in my eyes

You heard the laughs, but mama heard the cries

But the world soon introduced

The fears of being a women

So mama said, "Don't you cry

I'll make the odds even"

But in the twinkling of an eye, twenties wrapped me around

And then you told me

Find a new home, forget this town

I then wondered where my real home lies

What did I do so wrong to say goodbyes

And if they'll ask me, "where's your home?"

I'll say it's the heart of all the women I've known

But I always don't need a mirror

Sometimes it was the eyes of others

In those eyes I saw how she pulled through all the pain

The nights she stayed awake in vain

As if it was her duty to make the puzzles stay in place

And in the absence of father, be the father in case

She was too young to raise you, she was rising herself

But she put her rise to demise, and never asked for help

Without a doubt she always chose them

Although her dreams screamed, "If not now then when?"

But she chose you every time

Put her agony aside and heard all your complaints and whines

But you still judged her, limited her happiness

So she silently sat across from her loneliness

You took away her freedom, you robbed away her peace

You locked her in a cage, and threw away the keys

But you understood this all too late

As six feet deep she laid

And then I asked my mama, "Do you have any fears?"

She tried to avoid it, but broke into tears

"I'm a human after all

I had a fear biggest of them all

It is to die and leave you behind

Who will take care of my girl

Who will listen to your mind

You grew up even before you healed

In times of battle, you became their shield

But before you go little lady

Please tell this all to my baby

Tell my daughter to not make sacrifices

And stay strong

Tell her to become a women

Before she becomes a mom"