When I Am A Young Mother I Shall Wear Puke

When I am a young mother I shall wear puke.

Just a little, on my shoulder to remind me of my babies.

When I am young mother I shall wear stretch marks on my tummy.

Silvery and wavy like the water that surrounded my little ones inside.

I shall also wear babies- on my back, on my front, on my side, in my arms.  

Always surrounded by babies and children and arms that need someone to hold.

I will giggle and tickle and enjoy the small moments.  

I will sit down rarely to eat, but snack all the time.  

Sometimes I will clean plates of others so that nothing is wasted.  

I will wear flip flops in the rain to take children to school. 

Because sometimes you sleep in and can't find your real shoes.

But I shall remember that I am not homeless, despite the puke and the leftovers and the wet, rainy toes.

I will sleep just a little and always in pieces.  

My eyes might be red and surrounded by new lines and soft creases.

But I will not notice, because the mirror takes too long when little hands knock and buzzers go off.  

When I am a young mother, I will just be grateful for a lonesome potty. 

Sometimes I may yell or cry for no reason. 

I will wonder if I am losing myself or my mind in the messes.

Then the children will say, "What is wrong?" and give me a cuddle.

The love will remind me that I did something right.

Amid all the chaos they learned to love mama and think of their family.

Suddenly puke on the shoulder will seem not so bad.

And later I will miss it when my clothes and my windows and my kitchen stays clean.

(I know I am totally NOT a poet.  In fact, I never really liked poetry.  I don't know how to rhyme and I never understood iambic pentameter or haiku.  But I like this poem, "When I Am An Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple" by Jenny Joseph and I thought we deserved one too.  Love you mamas!)