She shuffles the sheets of paper
arranges them this way or that.
takes a moment, draws a breath,
picks up her pen
(her lucky charm)
and leaves for the meeting.
In the hall she stands tall
delivering a brilliant speech.
Laden with metaphors and examples
from day to day life.
Her words like fluid flow
from her mouth as from her pen.
She glides through the room
answering questions,
gathering accolades.
shirking off snide remarks.
Accepting smiles
and answering them.
She is confidence
personified. Full of a divine light
that guides her in everything
she does or intends to do.
All she has ever said or done
has been but perfect.
On her way back she picks up
flowers for the husband
chocolates for the daughters
and clothes that she left
at the dry cleaners'
the morning before.
At home, she does
all the cooking, washing,
cleaning. Yet has the time
to act the perfect mother.
and the perfect wife.
A better person.
The children are delighted to see her
She hugs them all,
kissing each child goodnight
she smiles yet again and
retires into her own bedroom.
Come midnight, she
gathers herself and sighs.
Walks towards her desk
as she does every night.
arranges everything anew.
It looks good enough, and she
reassures herself it does,
before she can sleep at all.
But beneath her organised table
Lies a cluttered drawer.
Thinking of cherished memories, 
she lies, fast asleep.
Forgetting unfulfilled hopes
and thwarted ambitions.
Thanking God for giving
her the life she lives. Yet living
only a wreck of the life
she once dreamt of.

~Riya~