Cycles

They say society goes in cycles

**

And she who had seen her mother
be so demanding, domineering
and take up a lot of space
physically, psychologically

decide to recede
demanding as little as possible
volunteering to shrink
when other people wanted to expand
taking as little space and time as possible
and silently suffering for it all

gave birth to ravenous daughters
who lived larger than life
and concentrated the energies
of everyone around
and demanded and
pushed and pulled for everything
they deserved and were denied

**

he who was unloved, unattended
responded by giving his children
all that he was denied
minute scrutiny,
miniscule enquiries
micro management,
precautions and safety nets
solicitous attention
at all public places

and she who felt smothered
wished she had more of a leeway
more of a space to do her own things
hating him staying up for her
when she was late
dreading the insistent phone calls
and the strident tones of conversations
raised her children with a cool equidistance
trying to give them freedom, privacy
and everything they needed to

gave birth to children who
longed for a little bit more care
for a warm embrace when they got back home
for a worried frown when they fell down
for a frantic phone call when they were late
and for people to stay up for hours
to celebrate or mourn
every little detail of life with them
children who longed for
just little bit more of demonstration
to feel that they were loved