I learned from my mother…

That women are strong
That life can be difficult
But we go on.

She taught to be soft
On those finding life hard
To help protect those
Who’ve already been scarred.

To work when I need to
But otherwise play
That night time’s for dreaming
But so is the day.

To be gentle with those
Who are tough on themselves
To share out my love
But save some for myself.

To stand up to those
Who would walk over me
To hold up my head
When I’m down and feel weak.

To only apologise
When I am wrong
To know that there’s always
A place I belong.

To trust in my future
And treasure my past
To smash it each time
That the ceiling is glass.

To find the lessons
In relationships lost
Because some things in life
Are not worth what they cost.

But what she taught most
About life and of worth
Was that it is only
The best I deserve.

And maybe your mother
Has taught you the same
But if she has not
Well, then I’m here today.

To say that you too
Deserve only the best
To live out the life
That exists in your head.

To find your own strength
And to dream and stand tall
To trust you might fly
When you think you could fall.

So never stop dreaming
And never give up
Because, mother or not
You are worthy of love.

💗💗

Becky Hemsley 2022.
Artwork by Erzebet S.

This poem is from my second collection here
https://a.co/d/alTSVTZ