This collection of poems is a journey of love, loss, grief, and remembrance-a tribute to the most precious soul in my life, my mother. From my earliest childhood memories to the days of her illness, passing, and beyond, these poems capture moments both tender and painful, moments that shaped who I am.

Each poem is a conversation with her-sometimes a whisper, sometimes a cry. Through these verses, I remember her care, her sacrifices, her laughter, and her strength. I relive the moments she held me close, guided me through life, and protected our family. I also share the void left in her absence, the helplessness, and the unbearable pain of losing her.

Even in grief, there is a thread of hope-her presence continues to guide me, silently, invisibly. These poems are a testament to the eternal bond between a mother and her children. They speak of how love never truly leaves, how memory becomes a home, and how a mother’s essence can live forever in her family, even after she is gone.

A mother is the first light of our lives. She is the source of unconditional love, nurturing care, and wisdom that shapes us long before we can even understand the world. In her embrace, we find safety; in her eyes, we find guidance; in her voice, we find comfort. The presence of a mother is the foundation of every child’s life. Yet, too often, we take her love for granted-assuming she will always be there. The truth, as these poems painfully remind me, is that a mother’s presence is precious, fragile, and irreplaceable. Losing her is a wound that no passage of time can entirely heal.

Through these poems, I also reflect on the subtle ways in which a mother’s influence continues even after her physical presence fades. Her lessons, her care, her laughter, and even her silence guide us. She is present in our daily actions, our decisions, and in the love we extend to others. She becomes our moral compass, our silent mentor, and the voice that whispers strength when we are weakest.

These poems are not only my personal homage to my mother but a gentle reminder to every reader: never take your mother for granted. Life is unpredictable, and the moments we spend with her-whether teaching, scolding, laughing, or simply sitting together-are treasures beyond measure. Cherish her, honor her, and let her know she is loved every day, for once she is gone, no wealth or achievement can replace the warmth she gave us.

In these pages, you will find stories of childhood, small joys, care, illness, helplessness, and final separation. You will read about the days of COVID, when her strength shone even in adversity; the helplessness of hospitals and silence; the rituals and grief that followed her passing; and the continuing presence of her love in my life, my family, and my daughter. Every poem is a step through sorrow and a step toward remembrance, a way of keeping her alive in memory and in spirit.

My hope is that this book becomes a bridge-for me, for my family, and for every reader-between loss and love, grief and gratitude. It is a call to value our mothers while we can, to honor them, and to recognize that the lessons, love, and guidance they give us are among life’s greatest gifts. They are the roots that sustain us, the wings that allow us to rise, and the light that guides us home, even when all seems dark.

This collection, therefore, is both a personal journey and a universal message: mothers are sacred, irreplaceable, and eternal in the hearts of their children. May these poems remind every reader of the blessing of a mother’s love and the duty to cherish it.

– Sonali Sahu