PP poem

i’ve having a really hard time with my body lately, and i’ve found that writing poetry helps me get my thoughts out while also allowing myself to view things from a different perspective. i wrote this poem on a day i was particularly having a hard time. i hope it helps a new mama out there experiencing the same! :) i’ve never really written poetry so be nice lol😩 i stare into the mirror my gaze transfixed on this body one that i don’t recognize “this can’t be mine” i think to myself. i look at my stomach and see a squishy pile of extra weight and stretch marks a scar carved into my bikini line and think to myself “this can’t be mine”. the stomach i’ve always known was never completely flat, but it was firm. it never had a single stretch mark, or hung over my pants. it never protruded in tight jean shorts, or a dress, or a skirt. it was always on display, adorned with beads around my waist, or a high cut top. now, this body i don’t know hides behind fabric, my arms, a pillow anything to take the attention off of itself. nevertheless, it commands attention. what if the pudge that protrudes the stretch marks that saturate the loose skin that sits— what if God gave me this body intentionally? i think i do not know this body, but this body is me. it represents who i am and what i’ve been through. what if every stretch mark that i hate so much was chiseled into my torso by God himself? each time i doubted how i would be a good mother thought that i couldn’t raise a son alone and was told i couldn’t do it by others. what if God placed the stretch marks there as a reminder i’ve gotten this far— i’ve quite literally created a life. this body cultivated a heart that beats eyes that see ears that hear a nose that breathes eyes that twinkle and a mouth that will one day call me “mama”. it turns out i do know this body. it’s the one that created my son. the one that feeds and nourishes him singlehandedly. the one that carries his weight and holds him close the one that was torn open and sewn back up for my baby the one that transformed me into the best title i’ve ever held. “mama.” 🩵🩵🩵🩵