by Jane Prinsep

Created on: October 25, 2009

With sunrise comes the first awareness
Shafts of light through windows and minds
A sleeping warrior lies crumpled; exhausted
Roused by looming shadows of battles ahead

Dragging aching and abused limbs forth
From the only respite in times of toil
The warrior begins monotonous tasks
The only markers that separate days

In these rituals the warrior conceals
Dry-throated fear of responsibility
The enormity of the life-long mission
Battle after battle stretched out ahead

Panicked thoughts and numbing isolation
Threaten to swallow the warrior whole
Routine, structure and one eye on the clock
Forge the warrior ahead like a wind-up toy

The day draws to a close and the warrior slows
Crumpled and exhausted; fallen once more
The white noise of demands abates
Cloaked by silence; isolated, alone

Incessant waves of exhaustion mingle
With final coherent thoughts of her day
Guilty feelings that she is never "enough"
The duty, the love; Motherhood's truth

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