Don’t cry over spilt milk it took 3 hours to pump over scratches and bumps as baby fell just left of the plush carpet Don’t cry over exhaustion compulsive cautions shaken from anxious dreams by chilling screams Does it not seem cruel that babies, too, have night terrors? Don’t cry from judgmental stares unsolicited advice partner’s expectations coming to bare Don’t cry at your lack of ability to soothe or juggle or produce your aching back as you move But do cry. Cry because you, too, suffer growing pains for the pieces of you lost against the carver’s blade for your small body of land stretched to fathomless terrain and your patience and your heart Cry because you dare to have it all because even superheroes fear the crash and fall Why else would they wear capes? Cry because water is life-giving and so are you. Cry. Cry. Cry. And then Smile Because one day that precious child with so much pain and joy to face will look up with earnest longing and ask you, mama how?!?! little by little day by day cry by cry smile by smile
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Andrea Hope is an internationally recognized performance poet, editor, and self-proclaimed world citizen. Her works have won acclaim in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, including as featured by Brilliant Star Magazine (US), Spoken Word at Joe’s Place (US), Baha’i Blog (US), the Catholic Association for Racial Justice (UK), Faith Initiative Magazine (UK), The Stage Tel Aviv (Israel), and WhyWhyWhy! (Israel). Her poetry book, To Mother, was published in April 2020, and she hosts a podcast by the same name. She is also a regular contributor to the social media platform WriteSpike, where she offers advice to developing writers based on her experience as a professional editor. Inspired by the emotive language of the Romantic era, Andrea Hope’s poetic works often highlight lessons learned from nature, motherhood, and the Baha’i Faith.
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