Image above: from a painting by Lesser Ury
Poetry
Tiny Being
A Poem by MICHELE GIBSON
[Patna. 1948]
Scripture she whispered into your tiny ears
New child with wispy limbs and skin fluffy with infant down
Caressed and swaddled tight in your mother's arms, gentle presence
*
Scripture she sang to you
Scripture she bathed you in
Every hour,
In a voice so fair the Gurus heard their history
*
But you left, so soon that ceremony could not invite your name
You left, a longing in her she did not expect to bear
You left, with grace alone
*
Little infant, tiny being,
Transported in a cradle made of scripture,
With her blessing you were free, a gentle parting
It is enough now when she remembers you
As her precious and her first,
Biji's Sardar ji
* * * * *
First published on September 16, 2010.
Republished for Mother's Day - Sunday, May 14, 2017.
Conversation about this article
1: Gurmeet Kaur (Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.), September 16, 2010, 12:04 PM.
Michele! What can I say ... but you made me cry. Mine is about to leave the cradle and I always want to remember him this way - 'My first Sardar'.
2: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), September 16, 2010, 3:47 PM.
Since we are still on "Sikh Humour" elsewhere on this site, and to renew Waheguru's faith in mankind, He has sent the gift of the first Sardar (not this Sardar) who recently made his debut, and wish to announce his proud arrival: "Sardar and Sardarni Singh are proud to announce the placement of Tiny Sardar Singh, formerly of the Womb, who brings with him extensive production and development experience to his new position. Presently, his immediate responsibilities shall include eating, crying, sleeping and waste management. The responsibility of the Management shall be: Keep the top filled and bottom cleaned. Failure to do so could create wafts of stink as a silent protest as per union rules. As for the feeding arrangement, a new special milk has been announced. It is laced with garlic. It is not only healthy, but also makes it easier to find baby in the dark."