Mother! What Did You Bring Me? Poem by Paul Buttigieg

When over sixty years has been reached since Kamanka
I ask what it is you bring me today
Did your decision save this child from whatever?
Were there ever any regrets on your side?

Am I a better person because of you mother?
I do not know you never discussed your decision
I remember you dropped me at the big steel gates
The government man took me away with a weird glee

Years later you kept saying I deserve an explanation
Yes I pestered you for that and more
You divorced you lost my writing and trophies
You left a young man with nothing of his past

I forgave you ever so slowly thinking you'd explain
My wish for understanding a false promise
That very shortly I'd be coming home
Mother! What did you bring me?

What did you take away?