Mother

A female dons many hats all her life, but the role of a mother is pivotal. I have telescoped the major milestones of a mother's life into a short poem on the occasion of Mother's Day.
This is an ode to my mother, who made me what I am.

When the scalpel sliced ,

Through the umbilical cord,
And the warm liquid oozed,
She knew not whose blood shed,
She hurt.

When elbows scraped,
And knees grazed,
The skin raw through the bruise,
She knew not whose plasma seeped,
She hurt.

Heavy books and late night toil,
Assignment deadlines met,
Eyes to the blue screen glued,
She knew not whose sweat poured,
She hurt.

Finally striding into the world,
A fine confident specimen,
Apron strings cut loose,
She knew whose tears rolled,
She smiled !