Taking a little friend out to a café
The barista asks if she is mine.
I explain that I care for her and the barista responds,
“You don’t look old enough to be a mother anyway”
And wishes us well
And my mind wanders
If things had been different
If laws had been different
If religion were not such a big deal
If countries weren’t so far apart
If work were not so hard to come by
If words were not so hard to find
If fate had had other plans
I would be mother to a 10year old, a 5year old, and a 2year old.
But instead
Here I am
Exactly where I need to be
Doing exactly what I am doing
And mothering myself quite nicely
Despite the fact
That I do not look old enough
To be a mother.
