A Poem for All Mothers

I have been thinking a lot lately about how lucky I am in my children. They are bright and funny and thoughtful and smart. Sure, they bicker and whine and squirm and insist on sitting in my lap at dinner. But they also look out for each other and come running as fast as they can to greet me when I get home.

Every year at Mother's Day, I want to be able to write some profound words about motherhood. And every year, I read this Audre Lorde poem and find myself wordless. There is nothing more or better than this that I could ever write. And so, to all the mothers who are celebrating their children, to all the children who are celebrating their mothers this weekend, I give you this.

Happy Mother's Day.

Now that I am Forever with Child
by Audre Lorde

How the days went
while you were blooming within me
I remember each upon each
the swelling changed planes of my body

how you first fluttered then jumped
and I thought it was my heart.

How the days wound down
and the turning of winter
I recall you
growing heavy against the wind.
I thought now her hands
are formed her hair
has started to curl
now her teeth are done
now she sneezes.

Then the seed opened.
I bore you one morning
just before spring
my head rang like a fiery piston
my legs were towers between which
a new world was passing.

Since then
I can only distinguish
one thread with running hours
you flowing through selves
toward You.