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Weightless

those beaten eyes glazed with a film

of bitter almond

shakily receiving her post partum reward

of a broken thyroid and a lumpy lack of form

 

once upon a time she lived

a lighter life

‘til procreation drubbed her good

these days she’s flesh in a black bag

of tightly straining clothes

 

mother-love keeps her upright

dead on her feet several months ago

but no-one’s noticed she’s gone off

under the wafts of the morning bacon

 

was that a giggle or a sob

or perhaps both, for things past

caring she is but it won’t help her now

as the hormones take a dive

and psychiatry pricks up its ears

 

still her occult self eludes her

skips laughing through months of therapy

peeps out behind the tumble dryer

to whisper “take the pills”

 

they want to help, they cannot help

those people who mean well

there is no holding dock

for deadweight mum

she sails away with breakfast things left clean

performs a joyful whale-dive, drifts

unseen

 

©C Watkins All rights reserved.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2016




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Date: 7/3/2025 3:28:00 AM
Thanks for sharing this... exposing your thoughts through your unique poetic style. Meanwhile, I greet you with the love of the Lord, expressed by John 3:16 of the Bible, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Be blessed.
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Date: 2/26/2016 10:38:00 PM
Permanent Cross, Welcome to Poetry Soup. It will be a delight to read and become familiar with your poems in the future. As for now, I will greet you with the same smile others passed when I first joined the soup. Wishing you and your poetry the best. I hope you get to meet all the nice poets around here STARTING with me- SKAT :-) Please drop a hello and tell me a little about yourself if you wish. I would like to be your newest poetry soup "FRIEND" Hugs* SKAT
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Date: 2/25/2016 10:33:00 AM
Permanent Cross,, Welcome to Poetry soup I hope you enjoy the community. You'll find friendly poets who are ready to support and give positive feedback. The only time I give constructive criticism is when a poet desires it. However, if for some reason the poem is not my field I will guide you to someone who is more qualified than I. Other than that I will read, enjoy and comment with positive feedback. Remember, keep posting, stay in touch, TAP my shoulder when you have a new poem. Stop by and read one of my poems if you like. My poems are not perfect, but I have a feeling you might like one. You might find my support addictive. I've been a SOUP Poet for 6 years. I encourage you to check out the contest page and read to receive comments. I'm from Texas, How about you? Tell me a little about your poetic skills. I will enjoy following you and your poetry :) We are Lucky To Have you. Your New Poet Friend @-> LINDA <-@
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Date: 2/25/2016 8:11:00 AM
PC, is this piece referring to 'post partum depression', by any chance?
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Carlene Simpson
Date: 2/25/2016 8:57:00 AM
Nice to know tht u're much better now.... PPD is a very serious condition, and its sad tht the general public does not know much abt it, so identifying when a mother has PPD is an issue. I have a girlfriend who had PPD and she actually tried to hurt her baby, her mother had to raise tht child for the 1st year of his life.
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Permanent Cross
Date: 2/25/2016 8:16:00 AM
Hello, it is - it was written at a time when pregnancy and giving birth took such a toll that I no longer knew myself - or what was going on, only that I had no control over my body and although I adored my babies, I abhorred the experience. And got very cross! So I tried to capture all those feelings. Much better now (11 years on!!).
Date: 2/25/2016 8:04:00 AM
Thank you for a great write!
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Permanent Cross
Date: 2/25/2016 8:04:00 AM
Thank you very much Silent One, I didn't realise people could see my pen name - and real one! Oh well- I have just explained it on the intro page. Very nice to hear from you. Permanent.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things