Sacred

Oh captain, my captain, you are a role model for me,
Because growing up to become a gem like you is all that I’ve aspired to be.
A smart, handsome man who is deeply adored for brightening up every room he enters,
And is deeply revered and admired by every crew member he mentors.
I feel blessed to have inherited your charm and invaluable qualities,
Or else I would’ve been dull and one of them oddities.

You were a simple village boy who faced adversities at a tender age,
You used it as motivation to stand on your own feet and turn the page.
The path you chose to make ends meet must’ve seemed thrilling at first,
Sailing across nations on a ship, till your family became the water you wished for to quench your thirst.
We deeply admire the sacrifices you’ve made to give us a trouble-free life,
No wonder you’ve been rewarded with such responsible kids and an amazingly understanding wife.

Your presence at home always makes us feel elated,
Whenever you’re away at sea, we all feel so incomplete and jaded.
I know you would’ve preferred to be there for us more during our childhood,
But you’ve been a great dad regardless, you’ve done the most you could.
I reminisce those evenings spent with you playing sudoku, jumble and solving crosswords using your super old dictionary,
I’ll always be grateful to you for sharpening my mind and expanding my vocabulary.

I consider myself fortunate to have you in my life and be your son,
The little time we’ve spent together over the years have been nothing short of fun,
Having a few drinks, exchanging stories, listening to old music and talking about life,
It’s been a privilege to be able to share these moments with you and get some life-changing advice.
I cherish the bond and relationship that we have developed over time,
Knowing that you have unwavering faith in me always makes me feel like there’s no mountain high enough for me to climb.

You’ve been more in touch with your emotions since becoming a senior citizen,
Longing to spend more time with all of us than being in the Captain’s den.
I know you’ve worked hard for far too long and should soon retire,
So that you can relax, spend more time with mum and do whatever you desire.
And..since you might begin to forget things and your memory might get faded,
I want to remind you that it’s you that completes us and makes our family so sacred.

The Goddess of Triumph

To say that I’m grateful for your existence would be an understatement,
Just like saying that I troubled you only when I was in your stomach would be a misstatement.

I am aware that it was not easy, the life that you chose,
Falling in love young, sacrificing everything, only to have no one close.
You thought you had your siblings to fall back and rely on,
But they showed their true colours; they were full of poison.
You were so brave and courageous in that agonising environment,
Despite losing so much, having us made you feel triumphant.

You have always been an amazing woman and a devoted mother,
So over-protective of your children, even though they’ve grown much older.
I’ve seen you do it all for us over the years, without a complaint or a stutter,
From stayin’ up late nights to chat about real stuff, to wakin’ up at 5 a.m. for me to prepare supper.
I appreciate everything that you’ve done for us, in an effort to be your best,
I feel it’s about time for you to live life for yourself, enjoy and leave out all the rest.

Our relationship has been through crests and troughs,
You have had to tolerate my recklessness, mistakes and bluffs,
We spent a few years during my teenage without seeing eye-to-eye,
Only to realise over time that we only had each other on whom we could rely.
Developing that friendly, understanding bond made a massive difference,
I’m glad we’ve both parented each other well enough to never jump the fence.

I really hope you know that you’ll always be a Goddess to me,
Not coz your presence lights up my world, but coz I’m amazed by your ingenuity,
Your kind heart and beautiful smile masks all the pain you’ve ever felt,
You’ve tried to make the most for us, with all the cards you’ve been dealt.
Your selfless nature and unfaltering belief in us is something I really admire,
To see you eternally happy and at peace, is something I truly and deeply desire.

To say that you are the best mother one could ever ask for is an understatement,
Just like saying that I won’t try my best to look after you when you grow old is a misstatement.