Recently, Taiwan-based writer Yang Du shared a heartfelt poem about the special bond between him and his mother. From childhood train station farewells to dreams that bridge life and loss, his verses remind us why family ties run deep.
"I wrote about how my mother used to wait for me when I was a child. When I left for university in Taipei, she would always say at the station, 'Make sure you come back. Don't make me wait like a cat, always watchful.' Even after I grew up and traveled abroad for work, she continued to wait for me—always like a vigilant cat, longing for me to return and massage her. After she passed away, the roles reversed, and it became my turn to wait like a cat—for her to visit me in my dreams."
In just a few lines, Yang Du uses the image of a 🐱 to capture his mother’s unwavering care and watchful love. It’s a simple yet powerful way to show how parents stay alert for their children no matter how far we roam.
At its core, the poem taps into universal feelings: the pull of home, the comfort of knowing someone’s waiting, and the bittersweet shift when roles change. Many of us in South and Southeast Asia can relate—whether it’s a mom at the railway station in India, a dad at the bus stop in Indonesia, or loved ones waving goodbye at Changi Airport.
Yang Du’s words also highlight the beauty of dreams as a space where love transcends time. Even after loss, those late-night visions can feel like warm reunions under a silent moon 🌙.
In a fast-paced world where we’re always on the move, this poem invites us to pause and appreciate the silent guardians in our lives. Because sometimes, love means waiting—just like a cat, always hopeful, always ready to pounce with a gentle nuzzle 💖.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
