My mother is a woman like no other. She gave me life, nurtured me, taught me, dressed me, fought for me, held me, shouted at me, kissed me, but most importantly loved me unconditionally. There are not enough words that I can say to describe just how important was my mother to me, and what a powerful influence she continues to be.
Being a 'Fellow' of Teach For Nepal, was a choice that has been through the inspiration of my mother's life. The support and love she gave me was so unconditional, that helped me move on to this challenging and wonderful journey.
Today, on this very auspicious day (Mother's Day) I want to share some glimpses of my journey, borrowing the words of an American poet Mary Oliver, as at this moment I am feeling that I don't have much words on my dictionary to describe my two years of fellowship. This is the tribute to my mother for the values she has given to me and for the love she has showered me with which I share with my children.
The Journey
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice-
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
'Mend my life!'
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do-
determined to save
the only life you could save.
 |
One day you finally knew
what you had to do,
|
 |
| and began, |
 |
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice-
|
 |
though the whole house
began to tremble
|
 |
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
|
 |
'Mend my life!'
each voice cried.
|
 |
| But you didn't stop. |
 |
| You knew what you had to do, |
 |
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
|
 |
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
|
 |
It was already late
enough,
|
 |
and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
|
 |
| But little by little, |
 |
| as you left their voices behind, |
 |
| the stars began to burn, |
 |
| through the sheets of clouds, |
 |
| and there was a new voice, |
 |
which you slowly
recognized as your own, |
 |
| that kept you company, |
 |
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world, |
 |
determined to do-
only thing you could do |
 |
| determined to save |
 |
| the only life you could save |
