Last week, as I picked up the SAME clutter around the house for the umpteenth time and made the SAME meals and did the SAME laundry, the repetitive mundane aspects of motherhood started to get me down. The thought came to me, “I’m always moving but I feel like I’m so seldom moving forward or really accomplishing anything!” Then a poem started to form in my head.
I don’t really write poetry – except for my dad’s birthday when his only request is a poem from each of his children (he LOVES poetry and has taught us all a lot about capturing thoughts and feelings through poetry). Poetry takes time for quiet thinking – something I don’t seem to have that often. But I do love how writing poetry helps you think about things on a different level. Anyway, here’s the poem I came up with.
Motherhood is Movement.
It’s up and down movement as we pick up
babies and socks and crayons and cheerios,
run stuff and people upstairs and down,
sit down and jump up ten times during dinner,
get up five times at night to solve nightmares and hunger and sickness
It’s sideways movement as we go
from helping with homework to stirring the dinner,
from reading stories on the couch to doing crafts at the table,
from school to the store to soccer to scouts to dance
It’s circular, repetitive movement as we
do the same dishes and clean up the same messes
make the same favorite foods and read the same books
answer the same questions and mediate the same spats
Sometimes we wonder
Are we getting anywhere with all this movement?
Is there any forward movement involved
in the up-and-down, the side-to-side, the circular?
The up-and-down, back-and-forth, repetitive motion
of a river
wears off sharp edges
creates paths
exposes
soothes
gives life
The up-and-down, back-and-forth, repetitive motion of motherhood
refines us
as it wears off our rough spots
creates us
as it exposes our strengths and weaknesses
soothes us
as we surrender to its rhythms
gives us life
as we give life to others
and propels us ever forward
on the hilly, zig-zag path
towards the people we’re meant to be
Question: What is motherhood teaching you this week? How is motherhood helping you progress as a person?
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myboysmommy says
Beautiful poem!! Thanks so much for sharing- sometimes it does feel like we never “get” anywhere, thank your for the perspective!
marctr says
I cringed when you mentioned poetry, it has always been difficult for me to appreciate. I was expecting something cheesy and whiny that was supposed to make me feel better but would make me roll my eyes. Luckily, I was way wrong, I loved your poem Saren. Beautiful message and beautifully expressed. It makes me want to go do the (same) laundry and then take a hike along a river with my kids. Somehow I doubt it will be as liberating as I’m imagining right now, but still sounds like fun!
Anny Quail says
Love it! So me. I wrote a poem. Though I am no poet, I love trying and being creative.
Messes messes everywhere
Messes messes in my hair
Stickys stickys icky goo
Stickys stickys all over you
Crummys crummys on the floor
Crummys crummys please no more
Dishes dishes piled high
Dishes dishes my oh my
Giggles giggles on their way
Giggles giggles cleaning for another day
I think I read to many kids books….
Dawn Wessman says
I could feel the different planes of movement as I read your poem- and the last line sealed it. Thank you for your thoughts and challenge!
rachel ream says
Perfect.