A Mother’s Gift

A poem — on mothering yourself.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

When you leave, my child
I will gift you with —

a photo of us with all our smiling faces
a book to take you to faraway places
a lamp to light up all your spaces

a pen and journal to write in
a cup to hold warm liquids in
a blanket to hug you with

a song to sing
a saying for grit
a first-aid kit

and my heart,
all of it.