by Tiffany Fink

I want to read the poems about mothers
with creased brows from pleading with God
to hold on tightly to their children
and bring them through.

I want to read the poems about the mothers
who recite, as if they almost have the courage
to believe, “when the worst thing I can think of
comes to pass, my God will be faithful to my children.”

I want to read the poems about the mothers
who stay up late and listen for the door to open,
who watch FindMyFriends to see if their young
adult children are sleeping in their dorms at 3am,

mothers who revert to the sleep patterns created
by newborns as they hold their 18- or 20- year old
newborns up to the Lord asking that He protect them
and swaddle them in His grace and mercy.

* I asked permission of my daughter-in-law Tiffany Haggard Fink, Ph.D., Professor of history and an accomplished poet, if I might print her poem “I Want To Read All The Poems About Mothers” on my website https://athinsilence.com. Tiffany graciously granted her permission. Her poem seems especially fitting for this Christmas season, helping me appreciate even more Mary’s fears, hopes, faith, and joy at the pending birth of her son Jesus, and all it will entail.