This Woman, Mother

This woman who mothers
the world, pasting stars
on construction paper projects,
winding tape around wounded
knees, composing calm for a
emergency room visit and
wiping vomit, spit, snot, blood,
feces and pee.

This woman who mothers, talking
to animals, her own, the worlds,
taking the hand of old people,
who taught you how to say
thank you, change clothes and
use the subway. This woman
who taught you everything you needed
to survive and watched you
learn how to survive without her.

The woman whose love is
irreplaceable. Who knows of
but has only hope, when she
leaves you, of the other mothers
of the world, who will
mother you through pieces
of life impossible
to live through without mothering;
birth, parenting, dying and pain. Say
thank you. Say thank you.