Sunday, May 10, 2009

On Motherhood

The blood of mothers
Coursing through my veins
Is powerful potion to my soul.

Mother Eve, whose courageous choice
Set a precedent for mothers all:
Sacrificing her own comforts and safety,
She bestowed a gift, exquisite and far-reaching;
The gift to be and to have joy.

Pioneer mothers, who never looked back
At the smoldering remains of their past.
Trudging forward daily, they suffered much
For their faith
For their prophet
For their God
For those who would follow:
Generations unknown.

The mother whose womb gave me life
Whose faith made me strong
Whose strength built my faith.
She has given no less than those before her,
And her children call her blessed.

Another mother, whose blood is not mine
Loved me as if,
Without waiting for my love to come first.
Her other priceless gift to me?
Her son, with his steady, unblinking love
For God and
For me.
Now her blood joins with mine
In my children, born of love and covenant.

How can I not rejoice in my destiny, my privilege?
I join these and other noble daughters, mothers,
Who know that greater joy comes from sacrifice
Than is found in seeking pleasure.
I glimpse the vision of that woman, that Someday Me
As this refiner's fire molds and shapes,
Burning, purifying, beautiful.

I see my daughter and I realize
How much I must show her
Teach her
Love her
Nurture within her
So that she, too, will choose motherhood.
The errand of angels, the blessing of God.

7 comments:

Ashley said...

Woah Michal! Poignant and beautiful. I think writing like that(so personally and so creatively) can be very difficult, but you did it well.

Michal said...

thanks, ashley. i haven't written poetry in ages and ages and thought i'd take a stab at it. the hard part is being willing to publish it here--kinda scary, but i decided to just do it anyway.

Scrappy said...

I am glad you did publish it, Michal. It is beautiful. I love it!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! So open emotionally. I am truly impressed. (and thank you so much. I love you.)
MyrnaMom

Stephanie said...

I loved it. Thanks!

Mimi Nowland said...

Thank you for sharing that poem. It is beautiful, helps me to want to be a better mother.

An Ordinary Mom said...

Beautiful!