Oh sweet single mom
At the end of the day
When you flop exhausted
And road weary
Into your bed
The pillow beside you
Empty
Whether by choice
Or by chance
Intended or unforeseen
It matters not
You keep your reasons
Close to your heart
Along with all
The other artifacts
That brought you to this place.
The darkness settles in
And the mind races
Relentlessly
Out of control
It babbles and rebukes
Bluffs and bitches
These noisy
Disrespectful
Unkind thoughts
That drip
Persistently
Into the wells
Of tired
Spent eyes
Sockets full.
Your body aches
And cries out
For comfort
Relief
Reassurance
A gentle caress
Tenderness
Human contact
Anything will do
At times like this
When you are
Depleted
Drained
Consumed
By the demands
The needs of others
Your children
Always come first
That’s the deal.
These cherished offspring
The loves of your life
Their birth
The ultimate creative act
Nothing compares
And you know it
You became a Goddess
In the moment
Of their conception
And they are yours
Eternally.
They are the source
Of your greatest pride
Deepest devotion
Unwavering adoration
Biggest fears
Grandest hopes
They inspire you
To soar with the angels
They provoke you
To grovel in the mud
With the devil himself
They have the capacity
To bring out the divine
Reveal the retched
Make you feel
Larger than life
Insignificant as a mite
They give you
Super powers
When you feel helpless.
They bring meaning
To your life
They bring purpose
To your days.
You are unfailingly present
To make their daily life
Extraordinary
The task is both
Daunting and endless
You are there
In the trenches
The bleachers
And hard benches
On the sidelines
Leading the charge
And the loudest cheer.
You are the one there
For homework
For practice
For sports events
For dance lessons
For music recitals
For teacher night
For beach days
For dog walks
For stray cats
For bike rides
For Sunday dinner
For Monday mornings.
You take temperatures
And wipe runny noses
You dry tears
And supply tickles
You’re a chauffeur
And a chef
Entertainer
And educator
You are the
Tooth Fairy
The Easter Bunny
And Santa Claus
Your arms are always
Ready for a hug
Your lips prepared
To smile
Your voice trained
To sing
Your heart eager
To laugh
Your hand fixed
To hold
Your storytelling skills
Are epic
And your goodnight kisses
Are unforgettable.
You are a single mom
But you are not alone
Know that
You are loved
And cherished
Admired
Needed
Respected.
You may not hear it
When your head rests
So heavy on your
Singular pillow
But the applause is loud
The honor immense
And the gratitude mighty.
