BAD MOTHER.

I am a bad mother.

He told me so in not so many words.

It can be seen from the sorrow the child demonstrates,

From the frustration she feels when she confronts the unknown

Or the impatience she shows for learning the new.

It is okay to feel sorrow, frustration or impatience,

And so is it okay to remind her to rise above it all.

I am a bad mother.

He told me in not so many words.

Because of the sorrow I feel for the things I have lost,

Because of the frustration I feel for the raised walls,

For the impatience I show for the lack of empathy.

I don’t need permission to be sorrowful, frustrated or impatience

And it is okay to exhale and carry on.

I am a bad mother.

But that is his opinion, not mine.

©Naan Pocen