Poetry: “Maternal Instinct” by Nayara Noor
The structure of Naraya Noor’s “Maternal Instinct,” feels repetitive, but as the reader looks closer, the heartbeat of the poem—a ghazal—brings out the physical language of the body, and the intimacy that the relationship between mother and daughter is invoked in a primal and instinctive way in these simple lines. Noor’s natural ability as a poet is evident her, and even though this is only her first publication, the care that this poem is built with is proof of her care and meticulous eye as a poet, and indicates that there is much more to see, this is just the beginning.
Maternal Instinct
Dutiful daughters sprawl, kissing the Father’s feet. But a mother?
And no one knows your name in Heaven, God decreed—but a mother.
Wives’ tales of the olden days warn of eventual treason. Fathers
forget, lovers leave. A final deceit. Don’t trust anyone but a mother.
Patient, parched palms, caress the spatula and the curious infant.
Ramadan night, our Iftar complete. Full family at the table, but a mother.
Sharp sting in the face from an unforgiving fist. Somewhere in Dhaka
the sullen child whimpers in defeat. Who could hurt you so, but a mother?
Obedient sons revere their fathers. But difficult daughters declare
their matriarchs weak. “You are nothing in this life. Merely but, a mother.”
Bitter in her mind are hymns of the past. She plays turbulent cassettes
of those hands on her neck on repeat. Lovers may kill, but a mother?
This poet remains difficult and bitter—everything but a dutiful daughter.
You, for twenty-five years my sweet, remain everything to me, but a mother.
Nayara Noor
Nayara Noor is a Bangladeshi microbiologist-in-progress by day and poet-in-progress by night. She is currently working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at her University. "Maternal Instinct" is her first publication.
