In a stirring new poem, Taiwan-based writer Yang Du explores the enduring bond between mother and child, using vivid metaphors and personal memories to chart a journey of love, distance, and longing.
Yang Du shared, “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.”
Beyond its personal core, this poem resonates with anyone who has left home in search of new opportunities—students, young professionals, and digital nomads alike. The image of a patient cat captures universal themes of care, anticipation, and the ways we carry our families across borders.
For global citizens building lives far from home, Yang Du’s poem offers a poignant reminder: while we chase our ambitions, the ties that bind us to our roots remain ever watchful. And sometimes, our waiting becomes a quiet act of love.
Have you ever felt the pull of home in the midst of your travels? Share your moments of longing and reunion below.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
