21/02/2023
Jess Urlich is a beautiful writer. Yesterday our youngest turned 5. It really brought about emotions I wasn’t expecting and this poem was a beautiful reflection. Motherhood is fast and slow and childhood is also fast and slow. A lovely thing to reflect on. 💕
You can mourn the girl you were
and love who you are now
You can build a beautiful life around
the days that come crashing down.
You can feel the sunlight on your face
from the bottom of the ocean,
You can watch your world as it stands still
and never more in motion.
You can know where you are going
when your alignment’s slowly shifting,
You can gasp under the waves,
or they can hold you while you’re drifting.
You can trace their face for hours
until they fall asleep,
You can whisper that you’ll remember it all,
a promise you may not keep.
You can be their universe
move mountains with a touch,
You can feel scared for no other reason,
than you love them, so very much.
You can wish away the loneliness
when the nights are coffee black,
You can study the landscape of their skin
and look forward, whilst looking back.
You can feel closer to your partner
though the ground beneath you is shaking,
You can never be more tired
while something within you is waking.
You can exhale the hardest days
while you’re still holding your breath,
You can give yourself over and over
when it feels like there’s nothing left.
You can learn the art of holding on
whilst also letting go,
You can have no idea what you are doing,
even though deep down you know.
You can linger back to before you loved them
a time ago that felt so long,
You can hold that tiny hand in yours,
and never feel so strong.
You can take with you the old
whilst weaving in the new,
You can pick your tired bones up
asking, why nobody told you?
You can watch them like you’ve known them
forever & a day,
You can rest assured you have,
as it was meant to be this way.
You can be entangled,
beginning, middle, end,
You can wonder where your place is
knowing simply, it is them.
It’s only confusing when you think
it’s one without the other,
Because opposites can grow in gardens,
within you as a mother.
And make no sense and complete sense
& turn you inside out,
And love can hold you - and it will,
through all the tears & doubt.
Because motherhood is fast and slow
it broke and made me whole,
A divide that only multiplies
within your heart and soul.
Words: Jess Urlichs, Writer from the hardback version of ‘All I See Is You’ www.jessicaurlichs.com/shop
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