sometimes I feel like a childless mother
Posted: May 3rd, 2011, 2:38 pm
I didn’t hear my baby cry the way
I thought that motherhood’s supposed to hear
a tiny scream of welcome. And I fear
I’m therefore not a mother— not today
and likely never. I don’t wanna pray
like Hannah, laugh like Sarah, shed a tear
of joy like old Elisabeth— but peer
into my eyes, my heart, my guts and say
it isn’t obvious I long for grace
as any of them— barren— ever did
and hope as much to hear my baby’s cry
and I’ll call you a liar to your face
because I know I’ve never really hidden
very well my childless lullaby.
I thought that motherhood’s supposed to hear
a tiny scream of welcome. And I fear
I’m therefore not a mother— not today
and likely never. I don’t wanna pray
like Hannah, laugh like Sarah, shed a tear
of joy like old Elisabeth— but peer
into my eyes, my heart, my guts and say
it isn’t obvious I long for grace
as any of them— barren— ever did
and hope as much to hear my baby’s cry
and I’ll call you a liar to your face
because I know I’ve never really hidden
very well my childless lullaby.