We’re told we should aspire to more,
We’re told to aspire to less.
We’re told that we should contribute more,
That a mother, a woman, always says yes.
We raise the next generation,
Nurture, grow and birth.
Endless hours and contributions,
More than society sees its worth.
We’ve offered far too much so far,
To do our best and be judged.
Taught to always give a little more,
To perfect and not begrudge.
That motherhood means sacrifice,
to shrink, but do more than ever too.
That nurturing our little ones,
Is not enough. Not all we should do.
The work we do is often unseen.
And it’s task after endless task.
Capitalism, patriarchy, society,
Silence us with this mask.
The mask of ‘martyr mother’
So giving and so meek.
But there’s more and more
who’ve had enough.
Who know there’s more to seek.
That this role is powerful and whole.
That it deserves a higher place.
That the problem isn’t mother,
It’s society and the rat race.
Told our value is in what we can offer
And give to everyone in our life.
To step into your own is scorned,
We should be a ‘good’ mother, wife.
But ‘good’ is a game that none can win,
And perfection is a danger to strive.
It will take nothing short of radical change,
If women, mothers, all, are to thrive.
