And now, in honor of the day that’s in it, this poem seeks to include those mothers who were not fortunate enough, for whatever reason, to raise their birth child.

 

in the café

having breakfast today

i noticed

babies

toddlers and children

 

i thought of you

what i had missed

who you are

who you might have been

 

tears

for the time missed

the childhood lost

those sleepless nights

i slept through

 

on to the next

generation

did you pace the floor

burping, cuddling

sleep deprived

 

do you cherish what

you have

or take it for granted

what i wouldn’t give

to have it back again

 

time

speeding forward

never a chance to

go back

 

fix a broken heart

replace the soul

ripped out by

loss

 

think only of a life

imagined

lived by you

unseen, unknown

love