Saturday, May 08, 2010

A Poem for Mothers

I found this when I logged onto Facebook this morning. I've been struggling a bit with my feelings about my shape. This little poem was a salve.



I am large in my skin
I make no apology
This belly grew a baby
Why should it be flat?
It curves with the memory of the womb.
These breasts fed a baby
Why should they be pert?
They swell with the memory of milk.
These hips carried a child
Why should they be slim?
They are full with the memory of life.
My bones are secret under flesh
My skin plump and white and fine
Mine is the face of Botticelli
Mine is the water of the Nile
Mine is the shape of things forbidden
Daughter of Gaia, grown beautiful and wild.

~ Lorri Barrier

13 comments:

Hilary said...

So you're saying that 20 years after my last child was born, I can still blame it all on having been pregnant? Woohoo!

Lovely sentiments here. :) Happy Mother's Day to you, Michelle.

Jinksy said...

20 years after, Hilary? Try 40! Thanks so much for the poem Michelle. :)

Shrinky said...

It's true, it's true! Your ribcage expands in pregnancy and never goes back again, I got that straight from the doctor's mouth (I didn't even have to bribe him)..

Mona said...

Happy Mother's Day Lime! :)

Craig said...

See, this is one of the things that I have learned to love about my wife's body, that it bears the 'marks' of motherhood, exactly as the poet describes. I look at our children, and at her body, however-much 'worse-for-wear'. . . and I am in awe. . .

Happy Mother's Day to you, my friend. . .

Anonymous said...

Thanks Lime, now I feel vindicated.
It is a lovely poem-so thanks too to Lorri Barrier.

Commander Zaius said...

Okay, someone come up with something for us guys suffering from beer bellies and love handles.

Wait a minute, that's completely our fault, never mind.

Jocelyn said...

I love this...but, um...how does it help me when I've ALWAYS had this shape--since age 11? Having kids simply helped my shape make sense. But having kids changed it not at all.

sigh.

Cosima said...

:) Happy mother's day, Lime! I am struggling with the curves on my ass, but then with life's pitfalls it helps to fall soft.

~Dragonfly~* said...

Happy Mother's Day one and all... A lovely poem indeed.
~DF~*

Dave said...

Sounds like common sense comforting thoughts, and why not? - Happy Mothers day. - Dave

Kat said...

Very good point!
Hope you had a lovely Mother's Day!

Lorriann said...

Wow--I am the poet. I'm glad you enjoyed my poem. I was googling myself to see how much info was there about my classes (I'm a teacher) and was pleasantly surprised to find this. So glad you like my poem. It was originally published in Mothering magazine in 2008.