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there are few things
stronger than a mother.
they come in all
shapes and sizes;
biological,
birth,
foster,
adoptive,
step,
surrogate—

the heart,
mind and soul
of every family
is the matriarch.  

mothers run the world:
working two jobs,
fetching the water,
attending the schools,
washing the clothes,
earning the money,
obtaining the insurance,
building the house,
finding the forms,
tending the herd,
making the appointments,
planting the seeds,
mending the fences
doling-out the medicine,
buying the gifts, the food,
the clothes, the books,
the everything,
sowing the crops,
planning the parties,
signing the permission slips,
giving the hugs,
helping with the homework,
wiping the tears,
finding the camps,
shaking the head,
making the snacks,
paying the bills,
reading the stories,
tucking to bed,
having the conversations,
hiding the truth,
visiting in the hospital,
stitching the hems,
tending the wounds,
cutting the hair,
taking the brunt,
walking the dog,
shielding the blows.
 
self-denying,
protecting,
compensating.  

there are few things
stronger than a mother
they come in all
shapes and sizes
and run the world
without asking
for anything in return.

they’ve earned
more than one
day of gratitude a year
with some shitty card,
flower
and brunch.

appreciation,
recognition,
and acknowledgement
are all fine and good,
but it’s time
for the fathers to
pick up the slack
and be better
without being asked.