Motherhood – a lyrical poem

Last updated on: June 9, 2014 at 4:41 am by Women of Spirit and Faith

Motherhood – a lyrical poem 2014-06-09T04:41:38+00:00 Women of Spirit and Faith

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

In a much lamented kingdom of imagination and remorse, motherhood stands naked and unabashedly unashamed. What a beautiful girl, the goddess of motherhood has birthed! That’s what I thought when I first beheld you. When I first saw you, my daughter, I thought you must be an incarnation of a rabbi; you had such a host of beautifully woven curls that fell down either side of your robust cheeks. I have to admit I was rather surprised you were a girl.

Before your birth, I had recurring dreams of a young boy with a striped jersey playing on the shores of a sun-drenched beach. In addition, when I had your would-be horoscope cast by a member of Hippocrates Institute staff, the astrologer was quick to assure me a boy was in the offing and standing waiting ready to make his entrance in the wings. So seamlessly convincing was the content of my vivid mode of dreaming, without any hesitation, I went out and bought many blue knitted outfits befitting a handsome, young son. I was completely convinced my dreams would not belie the truth of your gender.

Another telling thing happened after your birth. Here came another great cosmic joke: from the local billing department, I suddenly received in the post, a hospital invoice for a circumcision performed a few days after your much anticipated birth date. Later, when you took your first SAT test, I got a notification from the high school: “Little Ananda has done very well on his college prep tests.” I do not know whether Great Spirit has always fostered a mischievous streak that followed the echo of your footfalls as you progressed even unto the halls of academe.

Growing up on the reservation meant you grew up with people who believed in the spoken word rather than the words of dead white men. Year after year the music lessons went on. Get up at four in the morning, drive three hundred miles, intone and invoke within and without the mindful practice of the dress rehearsals for your violin lessons and performance in the car. Always remain open to listening to the strings of other professional musicians revving up in the airwaves on the radio. I am so proud of you today about all that you went through, all you did to become a musician and owner of your own musical company.

There is that connection we share with Great Spirit. You play music and I make sound poetry. When I write it is as if I hear you practicing the violin with such love and reverence I am inspired. That is how I come to write poetry. I can never forget you, my daughter, never.

Knowing every word I’ve written, every soul I’ve ever met has read the book of sorrow. In order to quaff a cup of bitters, what courage does it take? When young, we learn to roll the dice, later we learn to read pig livers and tea leaves. We steel ourselves against disappointment, we flex our muscles, we offer solace to the heart, as yet there is another chalice from which to drink. When birds rise up from the burning lake, they always look for another place in which to rest and restore the shadows of their wings. If love out-poured from a goblet overturned, know this, humility the only potion, the only compass, thirst dissolved in four directions, Mother Earth notwithstanding.

Elizabeth Martina Bishop holds a PhD from Bowling Green State University in American Culture Studies and is now studying for her second PhD, as a candidate in Women’s Spirituality at CIIS. She was a former ballet dancer and now writes poetry. She has published thirty three poetry books.

Mothers and mothering

Previous Post

June 6, 2014

What We Mothers Must Do

Next Post

June 18, 2014 Wisdom Brought in Feminine Ways

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 28-day meditation challenge A new world Alchemy: Occupy Your Sacred Self Ancestors and Spiritual Evolution Consciousness Ending violence against women Holiday season: quiet time or chaos? How has She blessed you in 2011? inter-being. Interfaith Invitation to blog: What does a world transformed by the Divine Feminine look like? Sounds like? Taste like? Smell like? Living the Divine Feminine Mother Work Mothers and mothering On Feminine Ground Owning Our Wisdom Parliament of Worlds Religions Personal rituals or practices that keep you in touch with the Divine Feminine Reclaiming the heart of our humanity Reflections on WSF retreat Sacred Love Stepping Stones on the Spiritual Path The next generation Tugging at your heart Uncategorized Videos: women of spirit and faith What are you longing for? What are you noticing? What are your dreams/intuitions telling you? What gets stirred up in you when you hear the words "War on Women"? What happens when women lead? What is "the Divine Feminine"? What is the Devine Fem calling you to do? What wants to Emerge? When we act as the Divine Feminine... Who inspires you? Why I am a... Women of Spirit and Faith

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2015 October 2015 August 2015 July 2015 May 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz