The Birth of a Mother
When a child is born,
So too a mother
A baby emerges
And she emerges transformed
At that moment she knows
Life will never be the same
When a child is born,
So a mother bursts forth
Often surprising herself
By the intensity of feeling she now has
For the baby she has carried in her womb
Who she now carries in her arms
Two were joined in flesh
Now separate, yet still intricately connected
Forever joined by unseen bonds
When a child is born,
Sometimes we bear the scars of our child’s safe passage
So many ask,
‘How is the baby? Is he safe? Is he well?’
Not so many ask
‘How are you dear mother? Do you feel well? Do you feel safe? Do you feel strong?’
Who will mother this new born mother?
Who will cheer her on?
Perhaps she too often thinks, ‘I must be strong, I must make all things well.’
A mother’s love is fierce at times,
Sustaining her through the hardest nights
Her efforts rewarded by
Squishy cuddles, trusting eyes, and milk drunk faces…
This baby has made me a mother
Some parts softer,
Some parts stronger
I have changed
And I wouldn’t change a thing.