22. Mother

"And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, 'This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed--and a sword will pierce your own soul too." Luke 2: 33-35

*****

Not baking cookies

kissing skinned knees,

or soothing troubled sleep.

Our stories of you,

serene and lovely,

are of faith.

Not faith in yourself

as mother--

that you and you alone

could calm His fears

and make it all better.

Faith, instead, that it would be made right

that which--with every fiber of your being--

every beat of your heart--

felt wrong.

Fitting and right that

your loveliness stems from

standing in the face of how much you would lose

and how little you could do about it.

"A sword will pierce your own soul, too"

as it does ours.

Mothers.