mothers of girls

you are still a saplingwho sways with the breezewhen the wind bends your branchesI fall to my kneesthe storms will sneak inand tear stem and leaf my insides will crumbleas you surrender to griefI must remind myselfthat sadness will strengthenresilience and giftsand your branches will lengthenreaching toward sunlightexploding in bloomI watch in amazementfrom the side…