Mothers’ Mantra

When a girl becomes a woman
It seems that transformation is done,
But that’s nothing compared to
When that woman becomes a mum.

No-one can prepare you
For the batshit crazy ride,
Which tears you up and rebuilds you
From every fibre deep inside.

The smiling midwife faces
Guide you up until the birth,
Then vaporise like incense smoke
When that baby comes to earth.

Thank the ancestors for instinct
That steers you from abyss,
And navigates your frazzled form
– a gentle third eye kiss.

Somehow some strength within us
Steps up and up again,
As we hold them close and see them grow
Through every joy and pain.

And raising them we raise us too
Inspired by our core,
We understand the voice within
Will not be quiet any more.

For also born when that child arrives
Is a mother pure and raw,
And the bonds between those mothers
Will triumph any war.

With words or gifts or smiles
We journey hand in hand,
And chocolate, tea and evening walks,
We breathe. We understand.

The adventure of this mothering
Without map or instruction book,
Like traversing a thorny field
And never giving up.

With the best people around you
Laughing, crying at your side,
We’ll drag each other by knicker elastic
Through this batshit crazy ride!

No difference of belief,
Opinion or world view,
Can break the bond between mothers
It is sacred; it is true.

We navigate the chaos
Of this slightly insane track,
The unspoken pledge mum to mum
“I’ve always got your back.”