Mother beware
his early daunting presence
debilitating tiredness
worn like a trophy
a sickness of the kind
sends others to bed
seeking solace and sympathy
has us instead
smug, strong
(yet tender, vulnerable)
proud, protective
never to be as we were again
Mother beware
his painful, urgent push
to share our world
They told us it would be excrutiating
(why didn't we listen?)
Beware his tremulous cries
his constant needs
ignore our bleary eyes
to soothe his tears
Mother beware the future
for you have forgiven
forgotten already
the imprints of his growing
the scars of his arrival
Beware
Beware
It must be love.
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