Baby sigh
Contentment breathed
Lips slumber's smile keep
Cupids bow stretched
In this moment
I hold you safe
Guarded by my arms
Eyes
Heart
Milk
Flowing into you
Filling me
Whispers at my breast
Security expressed
Close
Empty
Overflow
Today I can protect you
A love you can taste
Would it to last forever
And never be replaced
Try, I said I'd try
Afraid that I would fail
But now I'd fail a thousand times
If it meant you could prevail
Restless
Hunters
Creep
Someday you'll fight alone
The lions on the prowl
But in this moment I press on
Slaying lions to the ground
Science may support this
As a great thing that I do
But for me it is no greater
Than simply loving you
I offer time and again
In mystery and awe
Part of me redefined
For beauty so small
Once, you inside me
Now I in you
Vulnerable action
The risk of love true
Sweet
Soft
Warm
Melding together I find
I am yours
And you are mine
Pain, oh yes, pain
But I traveled through
Pain and back
Just to hold you
And when my breast
You no longer require
I will remember
Like a burning fire
Searching mouth
Gentle hands
Satisfied smiles
Safe, I held you
If for but a time
Safe, I fed you
Lucky mother, I.
Contentment breathed
Lips slumber's smile keep
Cupids bow stretched
In this moment
I hold you safe
Guarded by my arms
Eyes
Heart
Milk
Flowing into you
Filling me
Whispers at my breast
Security expressed
Close
Empty
Overflow
Today I can protect you
A love you can taste
Would it to last forever
And never be replaced
Try, I said I'd try
Afraid that I would fail
But now I'd fail a thousand times
If it meant you could prevail
Restless
Hunters
Creep
Someday you'll fight alone
The lions on the prowl
But in this moment I press on
Slaying lions to the ground
Science may support this
As a great thing that I do
But for me it is no greater
Than simply loving you
I offer time and again
In mystery and awe
Part of me redefined
For beauty so small
Once, you inside me
Now I in you
Vulnerable action
The risk of love true
Sweet
Soft
Warm
Melding together I find
I am yours
And you are mine
Pain, oh yes, pain
But I traveled through
Pain and back
Just to hold you
And when my breast
You no longer require
I will remember
Like a burning fire
Searching mouth
Gentle hands
Satisfied smiles
Safe, I held you
If for but a time
Safe, I fed you
Lucky mother, I.
So beautiful! Everytime I see your little girl nursing in a photo, I just feel so happy. You truly are a lucky woman to have such amazing children. You really made my baby fever act up :) You are a wonderful mother and this is a touching poem.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely poem! I especially love the phrase "Science may support this, As a great thing that I do, But for me it is no greater, Than simply loving you" that's exactly how I feel about my daughter...you brought tears to my eyes, as I'm sure you will do to many other readers! Great post!
ReplyDeleteOh, I just loved it! It made me cry! Gorgeous, just goregous!!
ReplyDeleteAs a mother whose baby is preparing to wean, it is as though you you pulled the words from my heart. I ache at the thought of not nursing my baby girl and I often don't have the words to explain why. Thank you for finding those words for me and so many other mommies! ♥♥
ReplyDeleteSuch a beautiful poem!
ReplyDeletei so wish i felt like this about nursing! my baby is seven weeks old and nursed like a champ the first three or four weeks, then started gulping air. i don't have a supply problem or an overactive letdown, just a baby who inhales through his nose and swallows the air. so, instead of it being a calming, relaxing,, happy time it's full of squirming, kicking, burping and crying. we live in a very rural area so we're lacking resources like a lactation consultant but i'm going to the next state to my first LLL meeting next week!
ReplyDeletewow...i'm now the creepy girl who vents all of her breastfeeding frustrations to strangers!! sorry!!! beautiful poem!
That made me well up in tears. Simply beautiful, Jessica. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous between Alex and Kimk, I wish I knew your name but I just have to say hang in there. I have had plenty of times where breastfeeding wasn't easy, relaxing or even something I wanted to do. In fact, even now, breastfeeding my 5th baby and past most of my breastfeeding challenges, I don't particularly enjoy it. Lots of physical contact can overwhelm me but I've learned how to make it work. You don't have to love it. What you are going through with your little one sounds very difficult and stressful, you are an amazing mother to continue pressing on in search of answers to give your baby not only the very best but the normal, healthy way to feed a human baby. This poem, for me, was less about my love of breastfeeding and more about the protection I know breastfeeding provides my babies and how I wish I could always keep them that safe.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you could use some support. I'd love for you to join The Leaky B@@b forums, a private forum parenting community for breastfeeding support and more. I really hope you get some real help at the LLL meeting next week.
By the way, you don't sound creepy at all, you sound tired and stressed, like a new mom experiencing breastfeeding problems. I've so been there. Vent away, we're here to help!
Oh. My. Heavens.
ReplyDeleteThis is absolutely beautiful. I think I may share it with our breastfeeding support group that meets in a few weeks.
I'm nearly bawling. My youngest is 2 months and I love our breastfeeding relationship. You did a great job expressing this most tender feeling.
ReplyDeleteLove it, love it, love it....perfectly written!
ReplyDeleteJessica, my husband and just read this together. Both of us have tears in our eyes. Tears that come from being truly touched in a place that so rarely gets reached in everyday life. "Publish this!" says husband. I could not agree more. Share this with more of the world. You are very, very talented.
ReplyDeleteHugs from Sarah HG
Wow, Jessica, this made me cry it's so beautiful. I breastfeed because I wanted to give my babies the best, I never imagined how much I would get in return. You said it all so perfectly.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful! Really makes me stop and remember why I do this, when I'm tired, exhausted and have a fussy baby. I'm glad we've fought through the GERD, the thrush, the latching problems and everything else to keep on going...
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting this in to words. I'm going to print it off and hang it in my office at work, if you don't mind...
Lovely. I also do not particularly enjoy breastfeeding, it is something that I do for the benefit of my baby. "But now I'd fail a thousand times, If it meant you could prevail". Exactly my thoughts as well.
ReplyDeleteThank you.