Mother waits for son

The clock lie dead and mother waits for son
a single shoelace hangs to dry in the sun

last time it was on the phone, cracked voice
not a goodbye, but hope; hope repeated twice

his mind free but on a string - a kite in the wind
the body in a corner, the black walls thinned

the world it sometimes crept in, cracks in the wall
yellow paper, alphabets crawl on paper, no signature

mother at night, a shadow in the dark as he sleeps
out of breath, love stuck in his throat he weeps

a solitary shoe lace gathering dirt and fungus
now just nightmares of father who was never there

and mother still waits - dirty laundry, dirty dishes
standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting, prostrating ...

Father was never there

first it was a plate, then all the photo frames
mother collected them all, shattered and maimed

the clothes, cleaned and spotless, hung to dry
sheets off the bed, the air still reeked infidelity

he asked often, but mother could not answer
father was never there, the home a house just there

the first time he saw blood, he raged and raged
held his throat, shutting him - shoe lace in hand

father was not there, fierce and cruel no more
no shattering of glass, murdering by words

mother was free, so he thought, but not so
grief crushed her heart, what was left after the hurt

he was not there, taken away; mother waits and weeps
the clock once cloaked betrayal, now it lies dead.

Mohamed Faisal is based in the Maldives. He is a diplomat by profession and has been writing since his school days. His poetry is inspired by the island environment of his home country. He independently published a volume of poetry titled Empty Words in 2009.