What is a Mother? Love.

What is a Mother?

When she said

You’re more like me than you realise

And I know that she is right

Jumping between all the different

hot spots of personalities

and honing in on them

Not feeling acceptance

A person who the memories of

Can now keep me warm at night

The teacher, or any adult

Who says

‘Just because you think it, doesn’t make it true’

The elders giving tax advice

Or talking with soft eyes

and wanting to know your

unique soul

I feel fragile and translucent

And, respectfully, not looking right

through you

The mother who talks about her sons

With such love and pride

The woman reading a poem at

the funeral

A strong, wisdom, sometimes trapped

inside

Generations that didn’t share with

their kids

And let them misunderstand you

Doing what you believe is best

And being open to that not being true

My beautiful friend being united with

her boys

Them yelling Mummy, with such love

and pride

Calm, constant, playful, responsible

The one holding all of them

And tenderly loving them, in gentle,

soft and kind

A Mum feeling she can’t go to the

toilet alone

Or, even, stir food in a wok

All the arms that parents stretch

around the world

In treasuring and giving what,

in that moment, is their full lot

Forgiving themselves

and looking after themselves

cos

that’s how you offer hope

And hold their hands

Watch as you let them go

To come right back

And be vulnerable

And angry

And have all the feelings

Want to hide and shelter

But, knowing they are here

We are connected

Mum is in me

I am me

And, I am beautifully human

Natural to long for and want acceptance

And that for Who I am

People will

love ME

A person serving the coffee

who notices the child is, now, alone

That the child seems scared, uneasy

Numb to everything

The teacher taking the child to one

side

Asking what life is like?

What do they do at home?

The questions

And the safety of no explosion

over a dropped glass

I’m not an accident

Waiting to happen

But, a powerful, meaningful

Coincidence

Supposed to be

And, one day you say

something positive, or listen

to a child

Years later,

they remember the moment

-and beam

Love is, coming down to

their level

And, realising that that level,

in many ways, is only one

of not being able to

reach certain cupboards

There is everything

and all their depths

Viewing the world through

childhood eyes

They should be listened to

for wisdom

(Listened to what they do, and don’t, say)

Making your heart the perfect

place through which they can

explore the world

It’s all about the need to connect

Children feeling deeply

Scared, looking for explanation

Curiosity springing up, welcomed

The gentleness of asking

with confidence

and a return, without shame

Beautiful mind connecting

and drawing stunning

abstracts

The voice of the older ones

Living in tiny parts of

the little ones

Encoded in their wonderful,

powerful brains

The dog who adores the baby sibling

and teaches how to roam

With humour and exquisite curiosity

They can be another home

An Auntie who doesn’t see

you enough

But, when she does she cares so deeply

about what she imparts

Because she sees the value in

the extra little bits of love

In a world of wonder

That she can show you

Overthinking because you matter

so much

Loving the moments of just being

(Invisible pressure put on herself)

You already have all that is needed

(You are an upgrade)

You instantly have her

heart