Mother’s Day
The earth holds the bones
of every tree that ever held
leafy children aloft
and the ashes
of every human mother
that ever nursed a babe
and the fur of every mammal
that ever carried
their young front to back
and the shells of every turtle
that ever guided
offspring to the sea
and the skins of every reptile
that ever hatched
tiny slitherlings
and the feathers of every bird
that ever nested
their brood
the earth gently holds the bones
of every child
ever created