Mangalesh Dabral (India)

Mother’s Namaskar
 
When Mother was well along in years
she would do namaskar to all guests
as if she were a young girl and all others older than she
to everyone she would say be seated eat something
to oblige her most people would take some snack
and sit beside her for a while
Mother would happily look towards them
and do namaskar even as they would be leaving
though this wasn’t necessary at her age
she would also do namaskar to the earth
and sometimes even when alone
eventually when death came
she would have done namaskar to him too
and giving her life to him must have said
be seated eat something
​
Translated from the Hindi by Sarabjeet Garcha