Mama, Look Up 
By Jalila  Nazerali-Ruddy
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September 2016

My eyes wide open to the world

Blinded by its beautiful

But I don’t turn away

I can not

Trees whispering secrets in my small ears

I giggle reaching my fat fingers to the sky

Feeling the sun trickle between them

I coo at the butterfly floating by me

Mama Look, I tug at your hand gesturing to the surroundings

But you did not

October 2016

I cry wailing around in my cot,

my stomach grumbled and moaned to be fed

My hunger-filled screeches piercing the quiet chirpless night.

You walk in, head down, with your face reflecting the glow of your screen

I hear you stumble and swear as you trip over the  pink pig

i sent flying to catch your eye without looking, you thrust my bottle in the approximate direction of my mouth

I blow a bubble and giggle, batting at it as it floats

“Mama Look” I cry clapping my hands together with joy

But you have already left the room

November 2016

There’s a cold wind in the air

But  I don’t mind, all bundled up in my winter hat, coat, and mittens

I swing high, higher ever before, my boots swing high above my head

I squeal with delight

I spot the pigeons on the ground below, as small as ants

The fresh air fills my lungs

My thought fly in different directions.

Creak

Creak

CREAK

I tilt my head

“Mama I think the swing is going to break” I call down

you reply without taking a glance ““Mmmhm….Uhhhh”

Screen-Fixed

Mama knows best

I swing and swing

I feel myself flying

I let out an ear-piercing scream as I hit the ground

Above me the broken chain dangles, the crack is clear to see

Mama why didn’t you look up?

December 2016

Standing in my big red boots, looking up at the sky

The leafless trees sway with the wind

The sky is nothing but grey, not even a glimpse of blue

sitting at the table near the fire your head bent over a glowing screen

A smile plays on your lips

The cat rubbing against your leg tries to get your attention

He will soon learn, as I have

I turn my head back to the open world

Ah!

White powder falling from the sky!

Ungloved, my fingers reach to feel

Cold, cold but soft

Amazing!

“Mama, Mama loo----” I stop

“Snow” I say to the deaf world

January 2017

I sat in my baby seat

legs swinging as i pressed my nose against the glass

Big building turned to small buildings,

busy streets turned to quiet streets.

Paved land to grassy rolling hills.

I slowly doze off to the land of dreams

Puppies, kittens, flowers, daisies, happy people their shining faces lifted up, taking in the world and they smile and talk

I jolt awake as the car comes to a stop.

I lift my head and glance around, a red light.

“Tap tap tap tap click-click” came a noise from the front

A noise I am very familiar with

Peeking around the front sure enough your head is tilted down, Screen-fixed

I sigh and lean back

The car starts moving forward

I start to panic, who is driving?

It couldn’t be you, you with your gaze lost  in the glow

But it is.

“Mama look up” I wail

February 2017

Sirens sound but you don’t hear

Lights flash but you don’t see

A smell like burnt  toast rises

but you can’t smell, Not anymore

Atlast your looking up

You’re unblinking eyes fixed to night sky

What do you see now Mama?