A Mother's Welcome

Back after a while, After a self-imposed exile To see my motherland And return with a beaming smile. As the plane touched the tarmac Hesitated my lips before touching a sip of cognac; My heart beat quickened and galloped; How is my motherland, indeed I wondered; A doubt arose :- Will I be welcome?, If not to many, at least to some; My fears were proved quite unfounded As the tapestry before me quickly unfolded; As my feet touched the beloved soil; Which was rendered free by many a toil; My heartbeat went quite a tad fast; Would I even a minute last?; Which should come first, I became profound The riot of colors or the many a vibrant sound; An inner voice immediately hushed me, "My dear son, Enjoy the infinite bounds". Many a, person did I meet; Each hug more affectionate than the previous in greet; Such exuberance I have never seen; I thought to myself "This is how the world should have been" Even nature operates here with some abandon; Indeed the most serious will laugh given a pardon No greater evidence was there to see Than the cute monkey which partook of my son's breakfast with glee. The food of the soil was so neat Every dish though humble was quite a treat; That even after a sumptuous meal; One could consume a Mysorepak* with welcome zeal; Soon the time to return came; My eyes filled with tears, I cried. O Mother thou hath welcomed me so, Why did I ever doubt your welcome, I do not know? (* A Really Sweet Dish) Ganapathiraman Raghu Raman