Free Verse: Blessing
I will never be the mother
of a human child-
I will never carry a child
to term-
I will never have my baby delivered
to me
or deal with the expected pain of birth
discovering how much harder it
really is
I will never be called Mom
And see another version
Of myself
Discovering the world
With
Fresh
New
Eyes
I will cry over this fact
I will experience jealousy
When I see any expectant mother
But then
I will remember
That I have given
My life
To writing
That I have given birth
Over
And
Over
becoming a mother
with every new story
That I write
Every poem
That I conceive of
In the shower
And rush out to write down
Leaving watery footprints
Across the smooth tile floor-
Every novel
That I endeavor to finish
Each of them
Calling to their mother
Across a crowded room
Making me feel
Loved
Recognizing me
As their creator
Snuggling up into my lap
Like a small child
As I stroke their hair
Falling asleep next to them
In the world of dreams
In the world of creation-
I will never be the mother of a human child
I will never send my child off to school
Or make them a lunch
But I will send my pieces
Slowly
Off into the world
Alone
Letting go of their hand
As they cross
the street
