Well-earned wishes....

[PatCarrington]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, Mothers

 

[WickedEve]

You're sweet, Pat.

 

[annaswirls]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, Mothers

You are sweet Mr. Carrington.

~anna

 

[BooMerengue]

Thankee, Pat!!

 

[Angeline]

Thank you, Patrick.

Memory Like Skin
by Angeline ©

I was a mother once, twice.
I remember the flutter, the kick
that morphed to heartburn
and silly waddle, preceding
myself in a skin-encased package
of secret world behind inward smile.

I played music, Berlioz, Beatles,
Lady Day, thinking you listen now.
I fed you calcium, protein,
and myself fear, anticipating,
flying between joy unbridled,
terror barely leashed until

an alien sensation. Peeing but not.
Oh God. My water broke and hours
hours hours trembling, straining
against my contorted self, vomiting
from a tiny compressed stomach.

Grandma stood by the bed. Mema,
they said don't push, but
my whole body screams for it,

and her dead fifteen years, but
she smiled at me, and I knew
she came back just the once
to say Chavala, women survive.

I remember. Yes, I remember this
pain, blood, tears, sweating
with my knees against my chin
until once, twice a creature
laid at my breast in untenable
love that obliterates memory,
blossoms like miles of flowers
opening at once.

They never close. I am still
a mother. It cannot be taken.

 

[Angeline]

And for my son...

My Boy

that boy i love
snorts when he laughs
sometimes hiccups

he calls me names

he can call me anything
he wants

because that boy
i love

can do anything

he can memorize
the periodic table
write poems
about clog-dancing kings
knights of square tables
and backward empires

and drink more coca cola than god

that boy i love
cried when his fish died

and once

in a tiny voice
asked me if numbers
neverending
means the same as infinity

I didn't mind when
he got the dog bite
or even when I
almost lost my job
staying home with him
because he almost
lost his eye

he's taller than me
now he shaves

but i'm still in charge
so i say he can do anything
except be a soldier.

 

[Liar]

Hugs to moms everywhere.

 

[impressive]

Dishing 'em out (hugs, that is) and taking 'em.

to all mommies.

 

[Angeline]

Where's Hynde? I want to wish *her* a Happy Mother's Day. She acts like she's my mother all the time.