Mother is a verb
that looks like an octopus
driving with a knee
while feeding blueberries
into the backseat
picking lentil burger out of the carpet
in a skirt
at a dinner party
starting a book at the end
even though it goes against the very skin of you
just so he can point out
the moon
this is the steady march of doing
that comes with the job
but mother is also a noun
that looks like silence
when your baby is born
the room left inside you
fills up with it
if you close your eyes
you will know it
it is the opposite
of you can do everything
it is just you
your breath
and awe.