“You have been chosen to be great amongst your generation”
Those were the thoughts she conveyed to my mind 
Promising me I was one of a kind 
Her kind voice easily recognizable
She was my champion, my guide 
And I was invisible by her side 
Protected by her shield, she was shelter in the rain 
Shelter from the pain 
In her shadow I stood, protected from the sun’s rays 
In her shadow I played, safe from enemy advances 

As time went on I detached myself
Awareness of things I should and shouldn’t know fed my curiosity 
I sometimes strayed too far from her shadow 
But rather than drag me back and rebuke me
She gave me leeway
Aware that some lessons are best learnt in person 
Yet she was there whenever I needed her 
When the world won a round and sent me scampering back
She’d welcome me with open arms and balms for the bruises 
And when I won a round, as few as I won, she’d wait and celebrate with me 
And revel in my victory 

Now I’m older and think myself wiser 
I stray farther and stay longer 
Sometimes challenge ur wisdom 
Discuss issues more and more like your equal 
But I’ll never be your equal 
For you existed before me 
And I came into existence via your existence 
I am eternally grateful for all you have done 
All the sacrifices and bruises from the battles you fought on my behalf 
The bruises from the ones I know you will still fight 
And I am safe in the knowledge 
That even if I stray the farthest away 
Ride off into the sunset horse and carriage
Or falter in terms of my courage 
You will forever be present 
Be it to teach or encourage
To rebuke or chastise 
Forever present like the supermum you are 
Happy birthday mum. 
50 never be joke