You’re still a mother
A damn fine Gaia
Even when the crown you made
Didn’t fit his head
Even with legs buried in the bed
While another gave him life instead
Of you

And you didn’t fail
Because he didn’t latch the Godly way
Because you chose not to read a book day
On the complex physics of milk

And when you watched
Your blood-stained pants
Spell out the words, “You can’t keep going”
You fed
Again and again
Knowing –
There’s still a mother in you

And you didn’t commit some heinous crime
By not shifting all of time
To meet schedules that steal days and minds
Because for just a minute
You needed you

And when he didn’t sleep
You didn’t miss the memo
With its zany workaround
That trending hack –
It won’t be found
You cannot bend a young man’s will

You’re not heartless
In the mess that is your heart
When you wept for moons on end
In the dark
Longing for what’s been and gone
Searching for your spark

You get it
You sold yourself to motherhood
A harsh exchange
That yields a mighty prize
And demands you wear your sacrifice with pride

You’re still a mother
You always were
He sees Her
In every cuddle and coochy-coo
He sees the immense Gaia
That is the whole of you