Mother’s Monologue

Siripathy Jayamaha

Today is Mothers Day. I am so happy, as a mother, that you children have set aside a day to think of us. However, I feel that mothers are for all time. One cannot measure a mother’s love or talk of her sacrifices by a twenty four hour yardstick – just for one day.

My dearest consummate of Gods creations, I am mother earth. I am a mother whose love is beyond borders, creed, nationality and colour. Please my children, spare a few moments of your time and give – ear to me on this beautiful day. I am the mother of both the living and the non living. My body stretches from the summit of Mount Everest to the dark and deep abyss in the Pacific Ocean. On my body are the oceans and land. Mothers are compared to magnets. Mothers attract children. Magnets attract many metals. As for me, I attract all things – terrestial and celestial on to my body. My body becomes the final resting. Place for everything animate and inanimate.

The noble teachers of our world had loving mothers. They have all left their sweet footprints on me, while treading on me cuddling their sons. They inspired them. Yes! I feel so proud and honoured to have kissed the footsteps of these Masters who walked on me preaching their immortal doctrines on compassion. Righteous living forgiveness submission, love and peace. I think, I am the most Blessed of all mothers.

Within me is water – life giving water, oceans that give sustinenance, rivers, water falls, glaciers, the valleys, reefs, the exquistle flowers, the birds, the fauna. Above all, you. The most perfect of all natures or Gods creations – the Human Being. Beneath my body is untold wealth – oil, gold, precious stones and many other precious ores for you to harness for the benefit of all mankind.

I was overjoyed, my darling humans, I thought, that you were going to make me the happiest mother for all time. I wanted to hear the patter of the little feet of humans and all others, on my body, the birds chirping and the flight of butterflies and bees.

‘Alas, what have you given me? You have desecrated my body with the pock marks from the shells of missiles, rockets, toxic waste. Also land mines, ammunition dumps, military bunkers and bloody dungeons. They have caused my body to shudder causing tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, earthslips, dust clouds.

By desecrating my body you have caused me to whither and to cause global warming. It is sad.

Your wars have soaked my body with the blood and tears of gallant young sons and daughters. You commemorate their deaths, by once again firing guns and by 2 minutes of silence. You rejoice at the fallen youth of your opponents. How many tears have I shed in seeing mothers – walking walking, walking, with babes in their arms, crying of hunger. Sometimes these children fall off the tired and scared mother’s bosoms, only to be trampled by those following. They walk into unknown lands as refugees. It reminds me of two unforgettable events. The flight into Egypt and the Hejira of two of the greatest teachers of all time were made on my body. Wonderful, memorable.

One hallowed Teacher reached His ultimate goal the Enlightenment seated on me. The blood of another soaked tiny body at the foot of the cross on which He was gracified. Two unforgettable events. Both for the good of man.

My children, as a mother, I shudder when I think of the cut up pieces of your babes being sucked out of the wombs of mothers. These pieces and thousands of tiny sweet unwanted human babes lie, beneath a few feet of my body. Only my small innocent friend where in my name is eternally imprinted – the gentle earthworm – will bear witness to these tragedies. They are silent tillers of my soil for your benefit. Their reward is to be cut up and trampled by you, my children.

My dearest children – have you ever thought of me on this lovely day. A once happy mother saddened – not by those who cannot think, to know what is wrong and right, but Alas! By you my dears.

You speak so much about me. Honouring the Motherland, dying for the motherland. Humans call their own countries their motherland. National Anthem mention my name. Think of my role in your lives. Only my sweet human children can make me happy and a memorable abode for all creatures.

May I embrace you all my darlings and shed tears of joy and Bless you for saying so many nice things about us – Your Mothers.