In your flesh
was formed this skin
These big brown eyes,
the bones within

In this heart there was a hole
And this is where you made your home
That is where you planted seeds
For years of weeds and pain to grow

In pulling your roots
I cracked the dirt
I dug you out
Your love, your hurt

But between the two I wondered-
Which was worse?

For needing you
is my biggest curse

And, though we’ll never find each other
I found what was missing
in being a mother

In this flesh
I formed their skin
Their loving eyes
Their joy within

And in this heart I made their home
And in your place, I saw it grow
It was the best part of me
That you’ll never know

And in planting their roots
I let go of you
At last, I am free
At last, I am new
I can move on; I will get through


So, Mother, you do not deserve your name
Because our wombs are not the same